Throughout my life, I have learned that leadership is not about holding a title but is about serving others with humility, compassion, and consistency. One of the most meaningful ways I have given back to my community has been through serving at an orphanage in Mexico. While I did not organize the mission trips myself, I have dedicated significant time to serving there over the past five years and have lived in Mexico for a month and a half to volunteer at the orphanage. I also returned this year for another mission trip and had the opportunity to serve in Costa Rica on a separate mission trip. These experiences have profoundly shaped my understanding of leadership and service. During my time in Mexico, I worked alongside other volunteers to support the daily needs of the children and staff. Whether helping with projects around the orphanage, playing games with the children, leading activities, or simply spending time building relationships, I learned that the greatest impact often comes through consistency and genuine care. Living there for six weeks allowed me to experience the community on a deeper level than a short-term trip could. I formed meaningful relationships with the children and witnessed firsthand how love, encouragement, and dependable service can make a lasting difference in someone's life. This year, I was grateful to return to that same orphanage in Mexico and continue serving the children and staff I had grown to love. I also traveled to Costa Rica on another mission trip, where I worked alongside local communities and fellow volunteers to meet both physical and spiritual needs. Serving in different countries has shown me that although cultures and circumstances may differ, people everywhere need compassion, kindness, and hope. My commitment to serving others extends into my everyday life as well. For the past four years, I have worked at Chick-fil-A, where I now serve as both a trainer and team leader. Although it is my job, I view leadership there as another opportunity to serve. I enjoy mentoring new employees, encouraging my teammates during busy shifts, and helping create an environment where others feel supported and valued. These daily opportunities have reinforced that leadership is not limited to mission trips but is something we practice through our actions every day. To me, leadership through service means putting the needs of others before your own and using your abilities to make a positive impact. A servant leader listens before speaking, encourages instead of criticizing, and looks for opportunities to help without expecting recognition in return. My experiences serving internationally, leading in the workplace, and volunteering through my church have taught me that true leadership begins with humility. As I pursue a degree in Entrepreneurship, I hope to carry these lessons with me throughout my career. My goal is not only to build a successful business but also to create opportunities for others, serve my community, and lead with integrity. I believe the greatest leaders are those who are willing to serve first, and I hope to continue living out that principle wherever life takes me.

1. Please describe your current experience with working part-time while pursuing a degree. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship while working part-time at Chick-fil-A and beginning my career in the life insurance industry. Balancing two jobs alongside college requires strong time management, discipline, and organization. Between attending classes, studying, leading shifts at Chick-fil-A, and building my skills in sales, every day looks a little different, but each responsibility is helping me grow. Working at Chick-fil-A has allowed me to develop leadership, teamwork, and customer service skills through my role as a trainer and team leader. At the same time, working in life insurance has given me hands-on experience in communication, relationship building, and problem-solving. Together, these experiences complement what I am learning in my business courses and provide practical knowledge that cannot be gained from a textbook alone. Although balancing work and school can be challenging, I believe these experiences are preparing me to become a stronger leader, entrepreneur, and professional. 2. Describe a time in the past when balancing work and school life was particularly challenging, and how you overcame that challenge. One of the most challenging periods of my college experience was balancing a full course load while continuing to work at Chick-fil-A in leadership positions. As both a trainer and team leader, I was responsible not only for completing my own work but also for coaching new employees, supporting my team, and helping ensure each shift ran smoothly. Many days I went from classes directly to work and returned home late in the evening with assignments, projects, or exams still waiting for me. Rather than becoming discouraged, I learned how important it was to manage my time intentionally. I began planning my weeks in advance, setting aside dedicated time for studying, completing assignments early whenever possible, and making the most of small pockets of free time between classes and shifts. I also learned the value of communicating with professors and managers when scheduling conflicts arose so I could stay on top of both my academic and work responsibilities. That season taught me far more than how to balance a busy schedule. It strengthened my resilience, improved my organizational skills, and showed me that consistent effort over time produces meaningful results. Those lessons continue to guide me today as I balance college, my leadership role at Chick-fil-A, and the beginning of my career in life insurance.

I am pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Entrepreneurship because I have always been drawn to the challenge of building something meaningful. I enjoy solving problems, connecting with people, and finding creative ways to serve others. My goal is to use the knowledge and skills I gain in college to build a successful business founded on integrity, strong relationships, and a commitment to helping others. My coursework has given me a strong foundation in business principles, but it has also challenged me to think like an entrepreneur. Through classes in accounting, marketing, finance, and business planning, I have learned that success requires much more than a good idea. It takes discipline, adaptability, leadership, and a willingness to keep learning. Those lessons have already begun shaping my career as I gain real-world experience in sales while continuing my education. Receiving this scholarship would make a meaningful difference in my educational journey. Like many college students, I am balancing the financial responsibilities of earning a degree while preparing for my future career. This scholarship would help reduce the financial burden of tuition, books, and other educational expenses, allowing me to focus more of my time and energy on my studies and professional development instead of worrying about how to pay for them. More importantly, this scholarship would be an investment in my future. My goal is to build a business that not only achieves financial success but also creates opportunities for others and serves my community with honesty and excellence. Every class I take brings me one step closer to that goal, and every opportunity to continue my education strengthens my ability to make a positive impact. I am grateful for the opportunity to pursue a degree in Entrepreneurship, and I am committed to making the most of the education I receive. With the support of this scholarship, I will continue working hard, growing as a leader, and preparing to build a career that reflects my values and allows me to serve others through business.

Growing up, I never imagined that I would want a career in sales or marketing. Like many people, I associated sales with convincing someone to buy something they didn't need. As I gained experience in leadership, business, and customer service, I realized that the best salespeople are not persuasive because they are pushy; they are successful because they solve problems, build trust, and genuinely care about the people they serve. That realization completely changed my perspective and inspired the career path I am pursuing today. My passion for sales comes from my love of working with people. During my four years at Chick-fil-A, I advanced from team member to trainer and eventually team leader. Those roles taught me that communication, patience, and servant leadership make a lasting impact. Whether I was training new employees or helping guests, I learned that people remember how you make them feel more than anything else. Building relationships and helping others succeed became the most rewarding part of my job. As I continued studying entrepreneurship in college, I became fascinated by how businesses grow through strong relationships and effective communication. Sales and marketing are not simply about promoting a product; they are about understanding people's needs and creating value. I enjoy the challenge of learning what motivates people, finding creative solutions, and communicating in a way that is honest and meaningful. Every conversation is different, which makes the work both exciting and rewarding. Today, I am beginning my career in the life insurance industry, where I have found a deeper purpose behind sales. Life insurance is not just a financial product; it is a way to provide families with security during one of the most difficult times they may ever experience. I have learned that my role is not to pressure anyone into making a purchase but to educate them, answer their questions, and help them make an informed decision that fits their needs and budget. Knowing that I can help protect a family's future gives my work meaning beyond earning a commission. My faith has also influenced the way I approach sales. I believe every person deserves to be treated with kindness, honesty, and respect. Success should never come at the expense of integrity. I strive to serve others with humility, listen before speaking, and always put people before profits. These values guide every interaction I have and shape the kind of professional I hope to become. In the future, I hope to combine my education in entrepreneurship with my passion for sales and marketing to build a successful business that creates opportunities for others. I want to lead with integrity, mentor future employees, and prove that ethical sales can change lives. For me, this career is about much more than closing deals; it is about building relationships, earning trust, and making a positive difference in the lives of the people I serve.

Growing up, I learned that success is not just measured by achievements but by the way you treat others and the effort you put into everything you do. The Giles family motto, "the two most important things are to be nice and hard working," reflects values that I strive to live out every day. Throughout high school and college, the advanced courses I have taken have strengthened both my work ethic and my ability to support those around me, while my financial circumstances have motivated me to persevere despite challenges. Taking advanced courses required discipline, time management, and resilience. Whether completing dual enrollment coursework or balancing demanding classes alongside work and other responsibilities, I learned that success comes from consistent effort rather than natural ability alone. These courses challenged me to think critically, meet high expectations, and develop the confidence to tackle unfamiliar problems. They also taught me that asking questions, collaborating with classmates, and encouraging one another often lead to better outcomes than trying to succeed alone. Being "nice" extends beyond simple kindness. It means showing patience, respect, and a willingness to help others even when life is busy. In advanced classes, I had opportunities to encourage classmates, work through group projects, and learn from people with different perspectives. Those experiences reminded me that academic success is most meaningful when it is paired with humility and compassion. Today, I continue to carry those lessons into my relationships, my work, and my involvement in my church and community. Financing my education has presented its own challenges. Paying for college while balancing work has required careful budgeting and difficult decisions about how to spend my time and resources. Like many students, I have had to prioritize earning income while continuing my education, often sacrificing free time to stay on track academically and financially. Although these circumstances have created obstacles, they have also strengthened my determination and appreciation for every opportunity I receive. Rather than discouraging me, financial hardship has taught me responsibility, perseverance, and gratitude. I am currently pursuing a degree in entrepreneurship because I hope to build a career that allows me to solve problems, create opportunities, and serve others. Alongside my studies, I work to gain professional experience while remaining active in my church through discipleship and mission work. These experiences have reinforced the importance of treating every person with dignity and approaching every responsibility with excellence. The values of kindness and hard work are not separate qualities—they strengthen one another. Working hard enables me to serve others more effectively, and choosing kindness gives purpose to my efforts. The advanced courses I have taken have prepared me academically, but they have also shaped my character. Despite financial challenges, I remain committed to pursuing my education and using the opportunities I receive to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Receiving this scholarship would help me continue that journey while easing the financial burden of earning my degree.