Dr. Jack Terry’s life story is a powerful reminder of what perseverance can accomplish even in the face of unimaginable hardship. As a young boy, he lost his entire family in the Holocaust and survived multiple concentration camps before eventually being brought to the United States. Despite starting over at fifteen years old with little education and no knowledge of English, he built a remarkable life through determination and hard work. His story is inspiring not only because he survived such tragedy, but because he used his life afterward to grow, contribute to society, and share hope with others. While my experiences are very different from Dr. Terry’s, his story resonates with me because it shows how adversity does not have to define someone’s future. Throughout my life, I have faced challenges that forced me to grow up quickly and learn how to rely on my own determination. Growing up in Gallatin County, Kentucky, stability was often difficult to find. My grandmother became the person who provided that stability and encouragement in my life. She worked long hours at a factory to support us and constantly reminded me that education was the key to building a better future. When she passed away during my high school years, I lost not only my caregiver but also the person who had always believed in me the most. After her death, I became a ward of the state and had to begin navigating much of my life independently while continuing my education. Adjusting to that reality was incredibly difficult, but it also strengthened my determination to succeed. I focused on building opportunities for myself through education and hard work. I began taking college-level courses through dual enrollment at Jefferson Community & Technical College while still in high school, challenging myself academically while managing the responsibilities of everyday life. At the same time, I worked to give back to my community. I have volunteered more than 200 hours at my church’s food pantry, where I help package food, transport supplies, and assist families who rely on those resources. I also serve as an intern with WeLead CS, where I help facilitate the JumpStart 2.0 program and mentor younger students as they learn about technology and digital problem-solving. These experiences have shown me how meaningful it can be to support others and help create opportunities for people who may not otherwise have them. Dr. Terry’s story reminds me that resilience and perseverance can transform even the most difficult circumstances into a meaningful life. His example encourages me to keep pushing forward, even when obstacles seem overwhelming. As I continue my education, I hope to use what I learn to make a positive impact on the communities around me. My goal is to develop skills in technology and problem-solving that allow me to help create opportunities for others, particularly students from rural or underserved communities who may not always have access to the same resources. Whether through mentorship, community programs, or professional work, I want to use my education to help others find paths forward in their own lives. Like Dr. Terry, I believe that overcoming adversity should not only lead to personal success, but also to helping others build a better future.

Compassion is something I learned not through lessons, but through the people who raised me and the experiences that shaped my life. Growing up in Gallatin County, Kentucky, stability was often difficult to find. My grandmother became the person who gave me that stability and showed me what compassion truly looked like. She worked long hours at a factory to support us, yet she always made sure that the people around her were cared for. No matter how tired she was, she believed that helping others was simply the right thing to do. Watching her quietly support those around her taught me that compassion is not just a feeling; it is something you choose to act on. Those lessons became even more meaningful as I faced challenges growing up. After losing my grandmother during high school, I had to navigate many responsibilities on my own while continuing my education. During difficult moments, I often thought about the example she set and how she treated others with patience, understanding, and kindness, even when life was hard. That example helped shape how I try to approach the world today. One of the most important ways I put compassion into action is through community service. Over the past several years, I have volunteered more than 200 hours at my church’s food pantry. In this role, I help package food, transport supplies, and assist individuals and families who come for support. Working directly with people who are facing financial or personal challenges has shown me how important it is to treat others with dignity and respect. Sometimes compassion simply means taking the time to listen, help someone carry groceries, or make them feel welcomed rather than judged. I also try to show compassion through mentorship and education. As an intern with WeLead CS, I help facilitate the JumpStart 2.0 program, where younger students are introduced to technology and digital problem-solving. I work alongside mentors to guide students through structured lessons and help them feel confident exploring new skills. Many students enter the program unsure of themselves or nervous about learning something unfamiliar. Being patient, encouraging their progress, and helping them overcome that uncertainty is one way I try to show compassion through teaching. In addition to these experiences, I have challenged myself academically through dual enrollment at Jefferson Community & Technical College and internships focused on technology and analytics. While these opportunities have helped me develop professional skills, they have also shown me how important mentorship and support can be for students trying to find their path. As I continue my education, I intend to keep compassion at the center of my actions. Whether through mentoring students, volunteering in my community, or using my skills to solve real-world problems, I want to create opportunities for others the same way people once created opportunities for me. Compassion, to me, means recognizing when someone needs support and choosing to help in whatever way you can. The example my grandmother set continues to guide me. Her belief that kindness should be expressed through action has shaped how I approach my life and my goals. By continuing to serve my community and support others as they learn and grow, I hope to carry forward the compassion she showed me every day.

I am a student who has always believed that opportunities are something you build, not something you wait for. Growing up in Gallatin County, Kentucky, I attended iLEAD Academy while also pursuing college-level coursework through dual enrollment at Jefferson Community & Technical College beginning in my freshman year. Through these experiences, I have challenged myself academically while exploring interests in technology, analytics, and problem-solving. Much of my academic and extracurricular focus has been centered around technology and mentorship. I currently serve as an intern with WeLead CS, where I help facilitate the JumpStart 2.0 program. In this role, I assist younger students as they are introduced to technology, coding, and digital problem-solving. I work alongside mentors to guide students through structured lessons and help make complex topics more approachable. Seeing students gain confidence while learning new skills has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had. Before this role, I also completed a data analytics internship with INTERalliance of Greater Cincinnati. During that internship, I worked with real datasets, collaborated with professionals, and learned how technology and data can be used to solve real-world problems. These experiences have strengthened my interest in technology while also helping me develop leadership, communication, and teamwork skills. Community involvement has also been an important part of my life. Over the past several years, I have volunteered more than 200 hours at my church’s food pantry. There, I help package food, transport supplies, and assist individuals and families as they access the resources they need. I have also completed service hours at my school, helping support events and programs when additional help was needed. These experiences have taught me how important it is to support the people around you and contribute to the well-being of your community. After high school, I plan to continue my education and explore career paths that combine technology, problem-solving, and helping others. My goal is to develop skills that allow me to solve meaningful problems while also creating opportunities for others to learn and grow. If I were able to start my own charity, my mission would be to expand access to technology education for students in rural and underserved communities. Growing up in a rural area, I know how limited access to technology resources can make it difficult for students to explore careers in fields like computer science, data analytics, or engineering. Many students simply do not realize these opportunities exist because they have never been exposed to them. My charity would focus on serving middle and high school students in communities where access to technology education is limited. The goal would be to provide hands-on learning experiences that introduce students to coding, data, digital tools, and career pathways in technology. Volunteers would play a key role in making this mission possible. They could mentor students, lead workshops, help organize technology camps, and assist with hands-on projects that teach practical digital skills. Volunteers could also help connect students with professionals in technology-related careers, giving them role models and guidance as they explore their interests. Ultimately, the goal of the organization would be to help students realize that their background or location does not limit what they can achieve. By giving students access to knowledge, mentorship, and resources, the charity would help open doors that otherwise remain closed.

Growing up in Gallatin County, Kentucky, has shaped my understanding of finances and financial responsibility from a young age. In a rural community with limited resources, I learned early that opportunities are not always easy to access, and financial stability cannot be taken for granted. Much of my life has required me to think carefully about money, planning, and long-term security in ways many students my age may not have had to consider yet. My personal experiences with finances became even more significant after I lost my primary caregiver during high school and became a ward of the state. At that point, I had to begin managing many aspects of my life more independently, including thinking about the costs of education, daily living, and my long-term future. Without the financial safety net that many students rely on, I became more aware of how important financial literacy is. Understanding how to budget, plan, and make responsible financial decisions is not just helpful for me; it is necessary. Alongside these life experiences, I have also worked to build my financial knowledge through education. I am currently enrolled in a dual-credit BAS 120 course, where I am learning about personal finance topics such as budgeting, credit, saving, and long-term financial planning. This course has helped me understand how everyday financial decisions can shape future opportunities. Learning how credit works, how to plan for major expenses, and how to avoid unnecessary debt has given me tools that will help guide my decisions in college and beyond. In addition to my coursework, I have also gained exposure to financial education through my internship with WeLead CS while helping facilitate the JumpStart 2.0 program. During this program, guest speakers from different professional fields share their experiences and advice, including discussions about financial planning, career growth, and managing money responsibly. Hearing directly from professionals about the importance of financial literacy has reinforced many of the concepts I am learning in my BAS 120 class while also giving me real-world perspectives on how those lessons apply outside the classroom. These experiences have helped me realize that financial education is not just about numbers; it is about independence, stability, and the ability to create opportunities for yourself. As someone who has faced financial uncertainty, I understand how important it is to make informed money decisions and to plan carefully for the future. As I continue my education, I plan to apply what I am learning by managing my finances responsibly, minimizing unnecessary debt, and building a stable financial foundation. My goal is to graduate with the knowledge and discipline needed to support myself while also building a career that provides long-term security and growth. I also hope to continue sharing what I learn with others in my community, especially younger students who may not always receive financial guidance. Financial education has already begun to shape the way I approach my future. By continuing to build my knowledge and applying the lessons I learn, I hope to create stability for myself and open doors to opportunities that might otherwise have been out of reach.