Altruism is something that I was taught at an early age with my family always giving back to the community and creating events that helped people in a time of need. I have been a Girl Scout about 13 years. I know that Girl Scouts also goes along with giving back to your community. It has taught me confidence, leadership, compassion and how to communicate with others, how to help others and give back, but most importantly, a sense of community. My Gold award was called "Spreading The Love" - an umbrella project that supported Lovepacs which provides meals to North Texas students who would otherwise go hungry during school holidays. I created and led an Annual Community Night at my high school’s softball game. I was able to address the root cause by educating the local community on the issue of hunger and how we can help. I created an educational flyer that was distributed during the community night game, along with leading a food drive, and provided facts on the topic to our PA announcer to read during the game. I assigned community night duties from working the donation table, passing out flyers, helpers to throw out first pitch. The project allowed me to use a wide range of leadership skills. The biggest leadership skill that I put into practice was organizational efforts. I kept track of all my hours worked, put together my team of volunteers, and set up all aspects of the project. I recruited and led a group of volunteers to help with food pantry expansion to another storage unit by helping set up and build shelves for more efficiency. I also coordinated volunteers to make a food run to help out with trucks and then stock shelves and take inventory along with packing over 300 boxes of food to be delivered for the holidays. We also packed and delivered 300 meal boxes for children. This event raised awareness of food insecurity and included a collection drive which netted over 500 food donations. So even with Dyslexia I was able to do great things and accomplish the pinnacle of Girl Scouts. It gave me a sense of community and worth of helping people that I am proud to be a small part to help make the world a better place to live each day. I had the opportunity and privilege to be selected to serve on the Frisco Mayor’s Youth council this past year. I was able to see first hand how the Mayor’s council serves the community. We were able to set up a pilot program for youth to serve in the community and give back to the City. It is something that I am passionate about and still helping this year see the young kids and get them involved. I would love to continue to pursue this in College, working with the City of Arkadelphia as well and see how I can use my talents to give back to others and help make the City a better place. I firmly believe it is what we we’re made to do, is to serve others and leave the world better than we found it in, if at all possible. I have an opportunity as well at Ouachita to serve on a Freshman Leadership Forum that gives back to the community. That is one of the reasons I chose this school, was for its athlete’s community involvement and opportunities to make a difference. It will be an exciting 4 years ahead that I look forward to continue to serve in any way that I am able.

I have always defied the odds. You see they say that only 5% of Girl Scouts make it to the Gold Level. I am one of them now. They say that 9% of girl softball players get a scholarship to play in college at the next level. I am one of them now. They say that 34% of dyslexics drop out of school because it is too hard. I say defy the odds, work thru the tough parts and keep going even after you want to quit and you will succeed. It is incredibly hard for me to write, speak and spell having Dyslexia but I have not let that stop me or slow me down. That is why College is so important to me. You investment in me would mean so much that you believe that I can do the hard work, and know that I will give it my all, because I never give up, no matter how hard or the odds. You will see better essays than mine, but I promise no other with as much heart as I have to give back and have done my entire life and will continue. I learned being a woman and playing sports made me more confident in who I am and not ashamed of what makes me different can set you apart! Dyslexia has been a major part of my life since being diagnosed in the second grade. Even though it’s made things more difficult for me, I think it's made me into the person I've become by shaping my skills to cope and has created my unique life experiences. Dyslexia has made me work harder both at school and outside activities. Though the struggle and pull on my confidence made it tough at times, it also taught me to see things differently and I began to use that and harness my strong work ethic. I was thrust into a role my freshman year as varsity pitcher and had to step into the leadership role and take it on, even though I was not ready, I was the only pitcher. I had to endure and press thru so much. I had to play sick, hurt and when I wasn’t hitting my target, there was no one else to step in. I had to adjust and learn and lead. I was able to take my softball team, with just myself and one other select player all the way to the playoff back to back and the first in our program history. All while my Grandmother, my best friend was battling liver cancer. I had to pitch in the playoffs game with her being taken to hospice. I have had to overcome so much at such a young age, but you have to learn to be resilient in this sport. This sport has taught me so much and I am so grateful to be able to continue to play at Ouachita Baptist University on a small athletic scholarship where I can bring my leadership and community values and make a difference there. It still leaves a huge deficit for my family to be able to send me to private college where I can pursue my dreams.

Altruism is something that I was taught at an early age, like Mary Louise, with my family always giving back to the community and creating events that helped people in a time of need. I have been a Girl Scout about 13 years. It has taught me confidence, leadership, compassion and how to communicate with others, how to help others and give back, but most importantly, a sense of community. My Gold award was called "Spreading The Love" - an umbrella project that supported Lovepacs which provides meals to North Texas students who would otherwise go hungry during school holidays. Poverty is the root cause of hunger issues in our country creating the need for assistance for school age kids in 2017, the Guardian reported "school holidays leave 3 million children in risk of hunger." I created and led an Annual Community Night at my high school’s softball game. I was able to address the root cause by educating the local community on the issue of hunger and how we can help. I created an educational flyer that was distributed during the community night game, along with leading a food drive, and provided facts on the topic to our PA announcer to read during the game. I assigned community night duties from working the donation table, passing out flyers, helpers to throw out first pitch. The project allowed me to use a wide range of leadership skills. The biggest leadership skill that I put into practice was organizational efforts. I kept track of all my hours worked, put together my team of volunteers, and set up all aspects of the project. I recruited and led a group of volunteers to help with food pantry expansion to another storage unit by helping set up and build shelves for more efficiency. I also coordinated volunteers to make a food run to help out with trucks and then stock shelves and take inventory along with packing over 300 boxes of food to be delivered for the holidays. We also packed and delivered 300 meal boxes for children. This event raised awareness of food insecurity and included a collection drive which netted over 500 food donations. So even with Dyslexia I was able to do great things and accomplish the pinnacle of Girl Scouts. One thing that I have to share about making a connection was the next day, after my community night, I received a letter from my supervisor from Lovepacs that she wanted to share with me about my project. A parent that attended the game got a flyer and heard on the announcement about Lovepacs. The person was inspired by the message and brought back a time when they were in need and someone had mentioned Lovepacs to help their family out in time of need. She said that is really did help them in a low part in their life and they are now in a position they would like to return the favor and help out with Lovepacs and keep spreading the word and love and volunteer and help. It brought me to tears, that is what it is all about, just getting the word out and making a difference in my community. It gave me a sense of community and worth of helping people that I am proud to be a small part to help make the world a better place to live each day.

Watching your longest putt curve and go down hill and hear the spin of the ball going into the cup is something I will always remember how it made me feel. I love the game of golf, but the stoke before the putt was one where I was behind a tree and had to hit out and around and was so frustrated and wanting to call it a day, then you get a great shot and it makes up for all the bad ones. I learned to play golf when I was 6. I had been diagnosed with Dylsexia at Scottish Rite for Childrens hospital in 2nd grade. It was there they told me about a program they had called learn to golf. My parents both play and I had been out with them on the course. Scottish Rite provided me with left handed clubs and lessons to learn to play. I quickly feel in love with the game and started playing in the kids tournaments they hosted every year. I am so grateful for Scottish Rite in teaching me a game that I can play the rest of my life. I am a left handed pitcher and first baseman and will play that in college, but my love of the game of golf will never change. When I was a sophomore in high school, I hurt my shoulder pitching and had to take a break, but was able to still swing a golf club and it was there I joined the PGA Jr League and made the scottish rite team. It was hard to overcome a shoulder injury but they taught me how to swing with ease on my shots and made all the difference in my game as well as in my pitching too. I have always defied the odds. You see they say that only 5% of Girl Scouts make it to the Gold Level. They say that 9% of girl softball players get a scholarship to play in college at the next level. They say that 34% of dyslexics drop out of school because it is too hard. I say defy the odds, work thru the tough parts and keep going even after you want to quit and you will succeed. Golf has been a great outlet for me to be able to let things go and just enjoy my time on the course. It is incredibly hard for me to write, speak and spell having Dyslexia but I have not let that stop me or slow me down. That is why College is so important to me. You investment in me would mean so much that you believe that I can do the hard work, and know that I will give it my all, because I never give up, no matter how hard or the odds. You will see better essays than mine, but I promise no other with as much heart as I have to give back and have done my entire life and will continue. I learned being confident in who you are and not ashamed of what makes you different can set you apart!

I know what it is to lose someone you love. It hurts from the bottom of my oes to the top of my head everyday. I lost my number one fan, my meemaw. She was always at my game, always had a positive word of encouragement, never anything bad to say, she loved to watch me play softball and told everyone she knows that I play with kindness, intensity and the best ball player she ever seen. Which, I was the only ballplayer she had ever watched, but it always made me smile. I lost her my junior year at playoffs, she went into hospice care. Then at the start of my senior year I lost my first ever hitting coach that was also my assistant softball coach to a heart attack suddenly. My world seemed to be closing in tighter on losing people I would care deeply. Then when I thought I was pushing thru, my head coach told us she was pregnant and was going to be out the entire season, but would return if we made it to the playoffs for a game. Lost three of my biggest supporters in a matter of a few short months. I was thrust into a role my freshman year as varsity pitcher and had to step into the leadership role and take it on, even though I was not ready, I was the only pitcher. I had to endure and press thru so much. I had to play sick, hurt and when I wasn’t hitting my target, there was no one else to step in. I had to adjust and learn and lead. I was able to take my softball team, with just myself and one other select player all the way to the playoff back to back and the first in our program history. All while my Grandmother, my best friend was battling liver cancer. I had to pitch in the playoffs game with her being taken to hospice. I had to take on a bigger leadership role my senior year with no coaches and the lost of our assistant so fresh on everyone minds. I had to lean on my faith and my softball knowledge over the years and playing these teams to be a role model and leader the team needed. I ended up being able to take the team to our first ever district championship. We pulled together and leaned on one another for support and I think it made us stronger and abel to rely and trust on each other and turned out to be our biggest blessing. I have had to overcome so much at such a young age, but you have to learn to be resilient in this sport. This sport has taught me so much and I am so grateful to be able to continue to play at Ouachita University on a small athletic scholarship where I can bring my leadership and community values and make a difference there. It still leaves a huge deficit for my family to be able to send me to private college where I can pursue my dreams. You may find a better candidate with grammar, but not with a bigger heart. Being Dyslexic, has taught me I have to work twice as hard for everything and to never give up. I learned being confident in who you are and not ashamed of what makes you different can set you apart!

Altruism is something that I was taught at an early age with my family always giving back to the community and creating events that helped people in a time of need. I have been a Girl Scout about 13 years. It has taught me confidence, leadership, compassion and how to communicate with others, how to help others and give back, but most importantly, a sense of community. My Gold award was called "Spreading The Love" - an umbrella project that supported Lovepacs which provides meals to North Texas students who would otherwise go hungry during school holidays. The root cause of my project addressed poverty. I created and led an Annual Community Night at my high school’s softball game. I was able to address the root cause by educating the local community on the issue of hunger and how we can help. I created an educational flyer that was distributed during the community night game, along with leading a food drive, and provided facts on the topic to our PA announcer to read during the game. I assigned community night duties from working the donation table, passing out flyers, helpers to throw out first pitch. The project allowed me to use a wide range of leadership skills. The biggest leadership skill that I put into practice was organizational efforts. I kept track of all my hours worked, put together my team of volunteers, and set up all aspects of the project. I recruited and led a group of volunteers to help with food pantry expansion to another storage unit by helping set up and build shelves for more efficiency. I also coordinated volunteers to make a food run to help out with trucks and then stock shelves and take inventory along with packing over 300 boxes of food to be delivered for the holidays. We also packed and delivered 300 meal boxes for children. This event raised awareness of food insecurity and included a collection drive which netted over 500 food donations. So even with Dyslexia I was able to do great things and accomplish the pinnacle of Girl Scouts. One thing that I have to share about making a connection was the next day, after my community night, I received a letter from my supervisor from Lovepacs that she wanted to share with me about my project. A parent that attended the game got a flyer and heard on the announcement about Lovepacs. The person was inspired by the message and brought back a time when they were in need and someone had mentioned Lovepacs to help their family out in time of need. She said that is really did help them in a low part in their life and they are now in a position they would like to return the favor and help out with Lovepacs and keep spreading the word and love and volunteer and help. It brought me to tears, that is what it is all about, just getting the word out and making a difference in my community. It gave me a sense of community and worth of helping people that I am proud to be a small part to help make the world a better place to live each day. I want to continue to give back in college with my math skills to help organizations like Lovepacs and others in Arkadelphia to be able streamline paperwork and spreadsheets to continue to make them profitable so they can continue to help more families.

I held a sparkler for the first time when I was 6 and I was amazed by how it worked, not by how it looked, like all my friends. My parents said it was then that they saw I would always see things more clearly than others and had a curiosity that followed with many questions of how things worked. I alway wanted to go behind the scenes to figure out what made everythign work just like how the sparkler worked. They are made from a pyrotechnic mixture in which aluminum is the fuel and barium nitrate is the oxidizer. It still stuck with me all these laters, I see the science and technology behind it and love sharing it with others. Not many women are in the field of technology, but with my 12 years of experience in Girl Scouts, they have taught me that we can do anything. They have shown us through STEM projects and classes how it is possible for girls to work in the industry. I was always the first to sign up for the classes and stem projects and loved that they offered a look into the world of technology. I took classes first chance I could, in high school for electives in technology so I could see everything and make a decision for college. 3D animation was by far the best class and it seemed to come so easy to me. Followed by Computer programming, to graphic design, to film and photography. I am drawn to these type of learning. I know you may find a better candidate with grammer, but I promise, you will not find a harder worker. Yes, I have dyslexia, and I have to work twice as hard as everyone because it is so hard to read, talk and things are always jumbled up in my mind and when they come out on paper. Please forgive me spelling and my sentences not flowing perfectly, I do my best, but I have always defied the odds. You see they say that only 5% of Girl Scouts make it to the Gold Level. They say that 9% of girl softball players get a scholarship to play in college at the next level. They say that 34% of dyslexics drop out of school because it is too hard. I say defy the odds, work through the tough parts and keep going even after you want to quit and you will succeed. That is why College is so important to me. I have made it through the Girl Scout Gold and offered to play softball in college. I want to defy the odds and show that I can do anything I set my mind too. Defy the odds, change the world one hard step at a time. Never give up. I was able to get an offer to play College Softball and would not have been able to without having Dyslexia, it pushed me and shaped me to the person I am today. Being confident in who you are and not ashamed of what makes you different can set you apart.

Each person has a set of strengths, skills and life experiences that make them who they are and help them reach goals in life. This is not necessarily a strength, but Dyslexia has been a major part of my life since being diagnosed in the second grade. And even though it’s made things more difficult for me, I think it's shaped me into the person I've become by shaping my skills to cope and has created my unique life experiences. Dyslexia has made me work harder both at school and outside activities. Though the struggle and pull on my confidence made it tough at times, it also taught me to see things differently and I began to use that and harness my strong work ethic. A major part of my story that helped develop my strengths, skills and experiences has been my many years in Girls Scouts. Reaching goals I've worked toward over time, has helped build my confidence in myself and what I can accomplish. The biggest of all was my Gold Award project that I completed. My Gold Award was called "Spreading The Love" - an umbrella project that supported Lovepacs which provides meals to North Texas students who would otherwise go hungry during school holidays. The project was a major task that helped develop a variety of new skills, and the entire process from beginning to end benefited my growth and development. The intention of the Gold Award for all Girl Scouts is to build leadership, character, relationship, time management, and organizational skills. Throughout the project I addressed challenges, along with motivating and inspiring my team members. I aspire to incorporate my Girl Scout skillsets in your classes and as a member of the University Community. Learning comes from a change in behavior, and The Gold Award helped me mature into a productive young adult who is determined to flourish and meet any academic demands set before me. I am enthusiastic, and look forward to meeting new challenges and making a contribution. Yes, I have dyslexia, and I have to work twice as hard as everyone because it’s hard to read, and things are always jumbled up in my mind and when they come out on paper. Please forgive my spelling (thank goodness for spellcheck) and my sentences not flowing perfectly, but I do my best and have always defied the odds. You see they say that only 5% of Girl Scouts make it to the Gold Level. Well, I did that! They say that 9% of softball players get a scholarship to play in college at the next level. Yes, I did that too!They say that 34% of dyslexics drop out of school because it is too hard. I’m about to graduate High School with 3.90 GPA. I say defy the odds, work through the tough parts and keep going even after you want to quit and you will succeed. That is why College is so important to me. I have made it to the pinnacle of Girl Scouts and also offered to play softball in college. I want to defy the odds and show that I can do anything I set my mind too. Defy the odds, change the world one hard step at a time. Never give up. It sure has pushed me to work harder than everybody else, to do the things I want to do, and has definitely shaped me into the person I am today. Being confident in who you are and not ashamed of what makes you different can set you apart!