Leadership is a characteristic that all can attain but very few are willing to put in the extra work to be recognized as having. This trait is something unique to those who want to leave a long-lasting effect on others around them. The way I do this is through sportsmanship and good character within athletics. Sportsmanship at any level of athletics is, and always will be, a must for the athletes of any particular program. I feel I have adopted this idea and have represented myself, and my school well by showing respect to others. Everyone’s story is unique to them and I feel the way I’ve been able to persevere through challenges has been exceptionally special. Having a mother who’s been an elementary school teacher my whole life has taught me how to act and respond to others. I’ve been able to respond to acts of bad intention with empathy. Whether it was helping someone off the ground after a tough play in basketball or giving a fellow runner motivation and advice after a difficult race. I have always felt like I’ve gone above and beyond to make other athletes feel understood and loved. Others have seen these acts and have been influenced by my sense of leadership. Our rival school, Leslie, has always been our main competitor in every sport. We’re always dead set on beating them, and making gameplans to win against them. This competitive attitude alone should draw me away from their athletes, however, it has allowed me to make some great friends. This is all because of sportsmanship. Despite being rivals, we’ve been able to put aside our differences and work together to be the best version of ourselves and be an example for others. Being able to look past our rivalry has allowed me to run with and learn from competitors from another school. I feel that having these experiences has given me the ability to excel as a leader and as a person as a whole. My goal is to have an effect on my school and leave behind a legacy that others will look at and hopefully mirror in their own lives. If I can make a positive impact on someone, even if it's only a little one, I feel that I have done my job. This role model-sounding position is something I've taken pride in and will continue to do wherever my future takes me.

Being the beneficiary of a scholarship like this would kickstart my future college plans. I plan on going to college to get a four-year degree and having the extra money would help me stay away from worrisome college loans. I will, most likely, work all four years of college just to stay on top of the expensive college life. This scholarship would help me put my work life aside and allow me to focus on my academic life. That would be a true blessing for me to be able to do and the extra funding would help me pursue my plans in the future. I would like to pursue a career in business and being able to strictly focus on my classes, rather than my work life and paying off my loans, would give me more time to sharpen my skills in my particular field. I'm extremely thankful for the opportunities I've been given in high school to focus on my academics and I would love to mirror this as much as possible in college. Student loans are something that is emphasized in my family to stay away from, if possible. These loans are something that many people, unfortunately, have to use to fund their college career which can lead to severe college debt if not taken care of quickly. My mother has plenty of friends who are still, to this day, paying off college debt that they had accumulated years ago. Being able to stay away from this debt would set me up perfectly for my future and lessen the worries that come with the expenses of college. My rigor throughout high school has shaped me into who I am today and is something I pride myself on. This attribute is why I know that this scholarship would only fuel my motivation to be successful. I've challenged myself with difficult classes and went out of my way to stick out among my peers. I've partaken in extracurricular activities like Cross Country, Basketball, Track & Field, and the National Honor Society (2022-2023 Treasurer). These things prove my ability to take on multiple roles and continue to rank high in my class and be a role model for others. My background with activities outside of school shows how I've been able to manage my time efficiently and proves that I already have experience in coping with lots of responsibilities at one time, which is common in college. The extra funding would only help me pursue my dreams and make my future brighter!