Our time on Earth is fleeting; therefore, every single moment is valuable. Whether we realize it or not, we leave a mark on this world and it becomes our legacy. How will I be remembered? I want to be remembered by my walk with God, exhibiting kindness, helpfulness, and positive influence. Daily interactions with others are essential to leaving a legacy. My morals are rooted in Christianity and I strive to live a life indicative of my beliefs. Kindness can be shown in something as simple as a smile to brighten someone’s day. I try my best to smile at others because I know it may be the only solace they have all day. I want to be remembered for my helpfulness. Tennis is a passion of mine and while I work hard on the court, I am also interacting with players around me. I am eager to help by giving tennis advice, compliments, and lessons. Off of the court, I strive to help those in need; those who others choose to overlook. In ROTC, I mentor younger girls who have low self-esteem and self-worth. I ensure they know that they are beautiful and that they are worth so much more than how they are treated. How I carry myself and the choices I make influence their lives. They know I care and they can come to me for help with their life choices. Every opportunity I have to encourage them is a blessing. My legacy will be the way I show the love of Christ in my daily living and interactions with those around me. Maintaining outstanding academics allows for the knowledge and education that will advance the way I am able to give to my community. As a future Optometrist, I will be able to impact a multitude.

A significant obstacle that I have had to overcome was a concussion/whiplash resulting from a car accident on February 13, 2019. The timing could not have been worse. USTA tournaments were starting up, and I knew I had to play to achieve my dream of playing collegiate tennis. My concussion was not diagnosed for a month, so I was utterly lost when I was on the court. I was unbalanced, my footwork was off, I was playing horrible, and I literally could not see the ball. I was devastated. Not only had I lost the ability to play tennis, but my grades were dropping, my memory was off, and my confidence was fading. After 1 month of 10-14 excruciating headaches a day, photosensitivity, and almost complete loss of vision in my left eye, I was finally diagnosed with a concussion. I was also diagnosed with whiplash, which caused loss of sensation in my left hand and arm, severe neck pain, and muscle spasms. A simple fender bender led to 4 months out of tennis with 3 months of physical therapy. That major setback did not stop me from reaching my goals but helped me realize that I am stronger than I thought. After 3 months, I was finally released; I trained with all I had and played number one this past season on varsity. I may not have had the best season on paper, but it was the comeback of a lifetime! Madison Ball

A significant obstacle that I have had to overcome was a concussion/whiplash resulting from a car accident on February 13, 2019. The timing could not have been worse. USTA tournaments were starting up, and I knew I had to play to achieve my dream of playing collegiate tennis. My concussion was not diagnosed for a month, so I was utterly lost when I was on the court. I was unbalanced, my footwork was off, I was playing horrible, and I literally could not see the ball. I was devastated. Not only had I lost the ability to play tennis, but my grades were dropping, my memory was off, and my confidence was fading. After 1 month of 10-14 excruciating headaches a day, photosensitivity, and almost complete loss of vision in my left eye, I was finally diagnosed with a concussion. I was also diagnosed with whiplash, which caused loss of sensation in my left hand and arm, severe neck pain, and muscle spasms. A simple fender bender led to 4 months out of tennis with 3 months of physical therapy. That major setback did not stop me from reaching my goals but helped me realize that I am stronger than I thought. After 3 months, I was finally released; I trained with all I had and played number one this past season on varsity. I may not have had the best season on paper, but it was the comeback of a lifetime! Madison Ball

As teenagers, we are not expected to fully know our life plan since we enter a different phase of life as we approach adulthood. However, I already know my future goals and how to achieve success. I used to want to be a forensic investigator, but in 2019 my mother and I got into a car accident. It took a month of pain and agony from my injuries for my optometrist to test me for a concussion. He then sent me to a concussion specialist, where I was diagnosed with a severe concussion, and I was sent to physical therapy twice a week for four months. When my optometrist was the only one to diagnose me, my interest in optometry peaked. My optometrist inspired me to become an optometrist. He helped me like I want to help others in ways that truly matter. Therefore, I will be attending the University of Pikeville in fall 2022. I will major in biology and minor in business. I will also be playing collegiate tennis. After I graduate undergraduate, I will continue my education at the Kentucky College of Optometry in the same town as UPike. I will then obtain my Doctorate of Optometry after four years. Once my school years end, I would like to work under a fantastic optometrist and eventually open my optometry clinic. However, tennis is a huge part of my life, and I would also like to coach tennis on the side and hopefully open up my tennis academy. My academy would hire some outstanding collegiate and professional coaches/players. I have thought a lot about my future, and I cannot wait for it to happen! Madison Ball

Some students are able to pass classes with good grades without studying. Most students actually have to study and come up with ways that allow them to remember what they study. It took me a couple of years to figure out what study methods work best for me. After years, I found the top two study methods that work best for me. First, I “teach” and imaginary class to learn and become familiar with the curriculum. Once I have taught millions of times, I then teach my class without any notes of power-points to help me. Allowing me to see how much I know and remember. I even come up with questions from my imaginary students so that I can answer the question to the best of my ability. Secondly, I either do a class study quizlet with my imaginary students to become more familiar with the material. If I am not in the mood for that on certain days, I then study the quizlet by myself by taking multiple tests. After receiving a 95 or 100 multiple times, I consider the material learned and continue to my next subject. This may seem quite silly;however, these are the only study methods that I succeed using. Everyone is different and we all have different ways of studying. Teaching imaginary students and quizlet are my study strategies that I use to achieve my academic success. Madison Ball

Since I started school, I have dreamed of succeeding in life. As I have grown up, not one thing has changed. I have played tennis for almost six years now, and it is an enormous part of my life. I have trained endlessly to become great at tennis. But I also put much of my time into my academics. I have strived for all A’s in high school, and I have started dual enrollment going into college next year with 21 credits. All that is great, but what I have planned for my future makes it all worthwhile. I plan to play collegiate tennis (I have two colleges to choose from) all my college years. I will major in biology and then continue my education at optometry school. I will earn a Doctorate of Optometry. After I practice under an optometrist, I would like to start my own optometry business, and hopefully, pass it down throughout my family. Once I retire, I would like to open my own tennis facility/academy. This allows me to keep tennis a considerable part of my life while also helping others learn. However, I will have to bring in a few professional players to help coach. Once I have achieved every goal I have set, I hope to travel the world and explore with my family and friends. My dreams might seem far-fetched; however, I love challenges! When I put my mind to it, nothing can stop me. I plan to obtain every goal I have listed before and when I retire. Madison Ball

Everyone wants to live a long, healthy life, but not everyone knows how to. I believe exercise is critical to living a long, healthy life. I am a very active person, whether playing tennis, going to the gym, or just doing something fun outdoors. Playing tennis or the gym is my go-to when my life gets stressful. Tennis lets me release all my anger into the shot I am hitting, while the gym enables me to use my anger/stress to push harder and up the reps and weight I am doing. Although exercise helps remove the stress of life, it also keeps our bodies in the best shape possible. Keeping our bodies healthy by allowing our muscles to work keeps our bones and muscles in good health while also releasing acids that can cause stress to our strengths. When we work out at a gym or play a sport, we are surrounded by others who also want to keep their bodies in shape, creating an environment of similar people. Exercising not only keeps our bodies in shape but also blossoms into new friendships. Therefore, I believe that exercising and staying active is one of the best ways to live a long, healthy life! Madison Ball

In a world where the hustle and bustle are all that is known, finding joy in simple pleasures can change an entire mood. Significant moments can create enjoyable memories and allow us to enjoy our daily lives. However, the simple parts of my day are honestly my favorites because it allows me to appreciate what is around me. Every day I enjoy going for a short drive around my small but growing town of Boiling Springs, SC. Going at the right time of day where there is not too much traffic allows me to calm down and enjoy my ride and the views. I may see my hometown every day, but while driving to get where I need to be, I do not look around and appreciate where I grew up. Going for this short drive allows me to see the beauty that engulfs my childhood. While I look around, I can reflect on memories and relive those days in my head, making my day slightly better. Another simple pleasure I enjoy when I have time on weekends is sitting outside in the morning and drinking coffee. It not only wakes me up, but it also relaxes me and gives me the space to think. I can have a quiet place with only the sounds of the birds and bugs and a beautiful sunrise. I also get to look at God's creation. It gives me time to think about my big life decisions with college and collegiate tennis. But also having this time to relax is rather lovely. I like to enjoy the little moments in life. The little moments of my life are where I find myself appreciating more, I am happier, and I look at the world somewhat differently. Madison Ball

In today's society, where love is meaningless, it is hard for females to truly value themselves. In comparison, my generation grew up with a love that was not entirely meaningless, allowing us to know our worth and cherish the love of others and ourselves. As a seventeen-year-old senior female, I know my worth, and I would say I am quite strong with my morals and values. However, being the oldest NJROTC cadet and oldest female in my first block class, I notice how different the newer generation is from my own. My biggest passion is mentoring younger females to value themselves and truly know their worth. This past semester I have seen my female freshman cadets fall victim to meaningless love and repeatedly get hurt. Eventually, my female cadets began to open up to me, and I have been able to mentor them to transfer their focus from demeaning relationships to themselves. They are manipulated by smooth-talking guys who only want them for sexual pleasure. And these males use them and throw them away, not realizing how harmfully this affects females. Therefore, when they talk to me, I help show them that standing up for themselves and saying no is better than being used and obtaining a bad reputation at school. I am starting to see my fellow females believe they are worth more, and they genuinely are saying no to these males who are only out for one thing and have no intentions of something genuine and pure. They have grown stronger and have become happier. Seeing my females grow has allowed me to realize my passion for leading younger females to success. Madison Ball

A significant obstacle that I have had to overcome was a concussion/whiplash resulting from a car accident on February 13, 2019. The timing could not have been worse. USTA tournaments were starting up, and I knew I had to play to achieve my dream of playing collegiate tennis. My concussion was not diagnosed for a month, so I was utterly lost when I was on the court. I was unbalanced, my footwork was off, I was playing horrible, and I literally could not see the ball. I was devastated. Not only had I lost the ability to play tennis, but my grades were dropping, my memory was off, and my confidence was fading. After 1 month of 10-14 excruciating headaches a day, photosensitivity, and almost complete loss of vision in my left eye, I was finally diagnosed with a concussion. I was also diagnosed with whiplash, which caused loss of sensation in my left hand and arm, severe neck pain, and muscle spasms. A simple fender bender led to 4 months out of tennis with 3 months of physical therapy. That major setback did not stop me from reaching my goals but helped me realize that I am stronger than I thought. After 3 months, I was finally released; I trained with all I had and played number one this past season on varsity. I may not have had the best season on paper, but it was the comeback of a lifetime! Madison Ball

Having a dream life is what keeps me pushing every day to achieve it. My dream life has many hopes and wishes, and it is honestly quite a lot. For me, my passions are school, tennis, and helping others. I want to get the highest level of education possible. Tennis is something I want to do for the rest of my life. And helping others brings me tons of joy. Once I graduate high school this year, I plan to attend a four-year college earning a biology degree. Then continuing my education to optometry school to complete my next 4-6 years. After graduating, I will work under someone until I can move out and start my own optometry business. Hopefully, having a good bit of success on my own, I want to open my own tennis facility. Obtaining about three to four professional coaches and working with athletes of all ages. Once I retire, I plan to keep both businesses open and maybe pass them down to my children. Then I want to travel the world and enjoy life. That is the dream life that I hope to achieve.

My days are pretty busy, but every night I complete my nightly routine consistently. This nightly routine is for self-care, which allows me to take care of myself. Every night, my self-care routine calms me down right before bed, allowing me to be completely relaxed for a great night's rest. My self-care routine consists of this: drink a cold glass of water, meditate, journal, brush my teeth, wash my face, roll my face with essential oil, read my Bible in bed, say my prayers, and go to sleep visualizing my tennis success. Self-care impacts my life because it keeps me relaxed and ready to wake up the next day for a wonderful day. During the day, I feel much better about myself, focus on tasks better, and have a lot of patience. With this, my attitude also transfers to those around me, and they also become relaxed and extremely friendly.

Life can get stressful at times which is a downfall. Stress can cause a person to go on a downhill spiral. Therefore, being patient is an essential aspect of life. When many people rush to do things, we lose patience, causing us to say/do things we do not mean. This can cause us to hurt others we love and those we do not know in the process. But having patience keeps us less stressed and friendly. Patience is important to me because I am very much a person who cares a lot for others. Having patience allows me to help others no matter what I am stressed/concerned about. Not only that, patience keeps me less stressed, will enable me to be nicer to others, and allow me to make time for those I care about. There are certain situations where patience definitely comes into play, enabling the problem to be calmer. Without patience, the world would be a stressful, unhappy place for everyone.

Each person has different sources to bring themselves happiness. Personally, exploring new places brings me happiness. Seeing the same old scenery every day eventually gets boring or old. Therefore, seeing new places brings me a fresh look at nature and industrial designs. Allowing me to appreciate the world around me during those times of believing it is boring or old. Seeing new places allows me to experience different cultures and traditions. Learning about cultures and traditions brings me happiness because I love experiencing things I am not informed of. Also, sharing these new places with friends and family brings me joy because these experiences bring us closer together. Whether I am by myself or with others, exploring new places allows me to explore myself in depth. Therefore, I can make changes in myself from what I learned on my adventures. I believe everyone should have their source for happiness. Happiness is the key to life.

Each person has different qualities/characteristics that make them unique. My name is Madison Ball, and determination is my most valued quality. The definition of determination is “a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult.” Since I was a young child, Joel and Wendy Ball (parents) instilled the quality of determination in me. They have always believed that having determination excels one in life, and I agree. I worked hard and persevered, allowing myself to achieve great things at a young age. However, it was not until about the age of 12 (I am 17) that I realized what determination truly meant—being determined to achieve something that I truly wanted, making me work extremely hard to complete that goal. Once I reached what I worked so hard for, great satisfaction was received, and with that feeling, I wanted to have that feeling numerous times. The two main areas in my life where determination shows the most are academics and tennis. Wendy started academics as soon as I could talk. Therefore, determination started in me from a young age. When school started, I had specific goals in mind, determined to reach them. Surprisingly, as I am about to graduate, those same goals I still have today will continue throughout my college years. These goals include: make all A’s every semester, keep grade averages above a 94, study for at least 4-5 hours a day, and never letting others use me for homework or tests. Once I had these goals set, I was determined to reach those goals each year. Some students do not have to study and do well in school, but I had to study to do great. With this determination, I have made only one B my entire school career, 4.8 GPA, dual enrollment (21 credits going into freshman year and 4.0 college GPA), and in the top 10% of my class. I have also felt satisfaction from being inducted into Junior National Beta Club, National Beta Club, and National Honors Society. I also have participated in Key Club, Leo Club, and Science club. At the end of my academic career, I would like to obtain a Doctorate of Optometry. With a Doctor of Optometry degree, I am determined to start my own business. I would have never been able to achieve what I have so far without determination. Being determined to do well in tennis has helped form me into the young lady I have become. It has also taught me to enjoy the little victories. I have trained countless hours for the past five years to achieve the goal of playing collegiate tennis. During these countless hours, I have improved my strokes multiple times, went to the gym consistently, and brought my footwork to the advanced level. I have succeeded in varsity high school tennis, making it to number 1 for three years and to individual state. Determination plays an enormous role in tennis because it keeps me pushing and improving my game. Knowing how hard I have worked in tennis, having two college coaches offer me scholarships has given me satisfaction of knowing all those years I strived for the best has paid off. Also, making others and myself proud brings me joy. However, determination does not just end in high school; I have to continue to be determined to play amazingly for my college team and strive to do the best I can in college. Being determined will help me complete the dream of being an optometrist and teaching younger children the beginning steps of tennis. Determination is key.

Motivation is the act of pushing through and pursuing no matter the situations we go through in life. Even when we are going through our most challenging or most manageable times in life, we keep pursuing/pushing to improve. Motivation is what keeps people going on a day-to-day basis. Motivated by many areas of my life each day; these include God, family, tennis, and self-motivation. God motivates his children each day because he wants the best for them. God is the strength and courage in my faith, and I keep fighting through every situation to make God’s promise come true. What is best does not always come easy, and if it did, it would not be worth it. Hard work and motivation to keep trying is the most efficient outcome for always getting what is best. Family motivates me each day. My parents have been highly successful in life and their careers. Seeing their lives helps me push for the same. They have raised their child to never give up on what she wants. Their motivation motivates me to make them proud and extend their legacy in life, which ties into the tennis part of the motivation. As parents, they have shown that hard work pays off. I train insanely on tennis showing the hard work paying off. Furthermore, tennis comes to mind on the days I do not feel like working out or doing homework because I have to keep both up to play in college. Lastly, self-motivation keeps me going. Yes, I may try to make others/parents proud, but deep down, the only person I need to make proud is myself. I have many goals in life that I want to meet and to reach. I have to keep pushing myself and pursuing my life goals.