Faith has guided me since before I was born. My twin brother and I were born at 26 weeks after our mother’s water broke at 22 weeks. Doctors said we wouldn’t survive, but through prayer and God’s protection, we did. Spending 123 days in the NICU taught me early that God has a purpose for my life—a purpose to serve, lead, and make a difference. Those first months showed me that even in the most uncertain circumstances, faith can give hope, strength, and direction. Growing up wasn’t easy. I had a brain injury at birth and learning disabilities that made school challenging. Faith gave me the strength to keep going. I learned that setbacks aren’t meant to stop you—they are chances to rely on God’s guidance. My parents’ prayers and my own trust in Him taught me that perseverance comes from believing in His plan. I began to see challenges not as obstacles but as opportunities to grow stronger and help others along the way. Faith drives how I serve others. As a Girl Scout, I created my Gold Award project, It’s Not Just Black & Blue, to educate teenagers about domestic violence. Many young people don’t recognize warning signs unless abuse becomes physical. Through assemblies, videos, and working with local police and advocacy groups, I’ve helped students spot controlling and emotional behaviors before they escalate. One student told me my presentation helped her recognize red flags in a past relationship and gave her confidence to make safer choices. Moments like that remind me that God can use our experiences to impact others’ lives, and that sharing knowledge can truly protect someone from harm. Faith also shapes my leadership. As president of my school and Post President of my Police Explorer program, I’ve learned to make decisions in real time, support others, and take responsibility for my actions. Faith teaches me that leadership isn’t about recognition—it’s about serving others with integrity, even when it’s difficult. Looking ahead, I plan to pursue a career in law enforcement while continuing to advocate for domestic violence prevention. Faith will guide me, giving courage in tough situations, wisdom to make fair decisions, and compassion for people when they need it most. I want my work to reflect the values faith has taught me: honesty, service, and hope. Faith isn’t just a guide—it’s the anchor of my life. Every challenge I face and every opportunity I have to serve is a chance to live out God’s purpose for me. Through law enforcement and advocacy, I hope to make a lasting difference, using the gifts and lessons God has given me to protect, guide, and empower others.

Sometimes the hardest battles are the ones no one else can see. Teenagers facing domestic violence often feel isolated, confused, and unsure if what they’re experiencing is real—but noticing those unseen struggles can make all the difference. I want to help change that. For my Girl Scout Gold Award project, It’s Not Just Black & Blue, I created a program to educate teenagers about unhealthy relationship dynamics and provide accessible resources for support. Partnering with local domestic violence agencies, my town’s police department, and even a father who lost his daughter to domestic violence, I developed presentations and materials that helped students recognize emotional harm before it escalates. One moment stands out: after a presentation, a girl came up to me, her eyes wide and worried, and told me that she finally had words for what she had been feeling. She realized she wasn’t imagining the warning signs in her own relationship. In that moment, I understood that service is not just awareness—it’s helping someone trust their own experiences and take steps to stay safe. Through my work as post president in my town’s Police Explorer Program, I’ve seen firsthand how common domestic violence is in real situations. While adults often have resources, teenagers frequently do not. That gap drives my ambition: if I could make my program easily accessible to every middle and high school student, I could help prevent harm before it happens and empower young people to seek support. Leading this group has also shown me that selflessness isn’t just about helping strangers—it’s about mentoring and supporting the people you see every day, investing time and energy to help them grow into confident, capable leaders. Watching younger explorers take risks, learn, and succeed has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I plan to continue combining leadership, advocacy, and compassion throughout my life. Whether through expanding my domestic violence awareness program, volunteering, or pursuing a career in public service or mental health, I want to create a world where students feel seen, supported, and safe. Making a lasting impact doesn’t always mean changing the whole world at once—it means noticing the needs around you and dedicating your energy to solving them, one person at a time. Through education, mentorship, and community service, I hope to leave a legacy of empowerment, understanding, and compassion. By helping even one young person feel less alone or more capable, I will have made a meaningful difference—and that’s the world I want to help build.

There is not much difference between a problem and an opportunity. I learned that lesson firsthand while creating my Girl Scout Gold Award project, It’s Not Just Black & Blue. I wanted to address a problem that often goes unnoticed: teenagers experiencing emotional or physical harm in relationships but not recognizing it, or feeling unsure whether it’s “serious enough” to talk about. I saw an opportunity to make a difference. For my project, I developed presentations to educate students about domestic violence, providing clear, accessible resources for support. To make the project meaningful and credible, I partnered with local domestic violence agencies, the police department, and even a father who had tragically lost his daughter to domestic violence. The goal was simple: help young people recognize unhealthy patterns, know they are not alone, and prevent harmful situations before they escalate. One moment made all the work worthwhile: after a presentation, a girl approached me, hesitant at first, eyes wide with worry. She shared that she had recognized red flags in her relationship but had convinced herself it wasn’t real. After hearing the presentation, she finally had the words to describe her experience and realized she wasn’t imagining it. Knowing that my work gave her clarity and tools to protect herself showed me that service isn’t just awareness—it’s helping someone trust what they already feel but have been doubting. Leading this project taught me about responsibility, planning, and communication. I worked with school staff to schedule sessions, created materials that were engaging yet informative, and coordinated follow-up support. It was challenging at times to ask my peers to pay attention to a difficult topic, but persistence and care turned each presentation into a meaningful conversation. If I had the resources to expand the project, I would turn It’s Not Just Black & Blue into a full nonprofit organization. I already maintain a social media presence, but I would invest in creating a more comprehensive platform with educational videos, workshops, and interactive resources for teenagers nationwide. I would hire a small team to help with outreach and partner with schools to make the program accessible to as many students as possible. My vision is to create a program that empowers youth before situations escalate, helping them recognize their worth, assert boundaries, and find support early. This project reinforced my belief that problems are opportunities in disguise. With creativity, persistence, and compassion, we can tackle issues others might ignore and make a tangible difference in people’s lives. The Gold Award showed me the impact of combining leadership, empathy, and initiative to solve a real-world problem—and I hope to continue building opportunities out of the challenges I see around me.

Ensuring "everyone has a voice" means creating spaces where people are heard and respected, regardless of their background. In today’s polarized world, it’s vital that leaders listen, understand, and unite others. Through my roles as a police explorer, Girl Scout, and student leader, I’ve learned that empathy, open dialogue, and action are essential for building stronger communities. As a police explorer for six years, and now as Post President and Staff Sergeant, I’ve learned how crucial it is to listen to the community and ensure their voices are heard. Whether interacting with officers or organizing events, my role has shown me that leadership isn’t just about giving orders—it’s about empowering others to speak up. Leadership means listening, understanding, and fostering collaboration. For my Girl Scout Gold Award, I created "It’s Not Just Black & Blue," a domestic abuse prevention program for teens—an often overlooked group in discussions about healthy relationships. Leading my program was an experience that helped me grow in many ways. It took nearly two years to complete my project, and during that time, I transformed from a timid teenager into someone fueled by a fierce passion to help others. Partnering with The Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation, Providence House, and the Jackson Police Department, I built a platform where teens could engage, ask questions, and share experiences. The program reached over 150 students in live presentations and many more through social media. One of the most rewarding moments came when a student reached out after my second presentation to thank me for helping her recognize she was in an abusive relationship and giving her the knowledge to end it before things escalated. Witnessing this change reinforced the power of giving people—especially teens—a safe space to speak out. As student body president, I learned that leadership is about connection, not popularity. I wasn’t the most well-known student, but I ran a solid campaign, listening to everyone—from athletes to students on the sidelines. I created new clubs and worked to improve school activities, ensuring every student had a chance to get involved. I realized leadership isn’t about recognition—it’s about serving others and making everyone feel included. Overcoming personal challenges has also shaped my leadership style. Born almost four months premature, I faced developmental challenges, including learning disabilities. The road wasn’t easy, but it taught me resilience. Adversity doesn’t define you—it’s how you respond that matters. These lessons have shaped how I advocate for those who feel overlooked or struggle with their challenges. In the Politics in Action program, I saw how democracy thrives when everyone’s voice is heard. Through mock elections, meetings with local leaders, and grassroots discussions, I learned how dialogue bridges divides. Leadership isn’t about creating conflict—it’s about finding common ground and working together to make decisions that serve the community. These experiences—whether leading my peers as a police explorer, organizing my Gold Award project, or advocating for inclusivity as president—have shaped my view of leadership. I now believe that true leadership means creating spaces where everyone’s voice is valued. As I pursue a career in criminal justice, I will continue focusing on domestic abuse advocacy. I’m committed to expanding "It’s Not Just Black & Blue" to reach more teens, helping them recognize and prevent abuse. By amplifying voices often overlooked, I aim to make a difference in the fight against domestic violence. Moving forward, I will carry these lessons of empathy, inclusivity, and active listening into my professional journey. Creating a culture where everyone has a voice is essential for meaningful change. I’m committed to ensuring that no one is ever silenced or overlooked.

I entered the world almost four months prematurely, and from that very first moment, I have been learning how to fight, grow, and persevere. That experience shaped who I am today and guides how I handle challenges and step into leadership. Over the past few years, I have taken on leadership roles that pushed me out of my comfort zone. I am a Girl Scout Gold Award recipient and serve as president of both my school and my police explorer post. I also volunteer with a community group called Politics in Action. Through these experiences, I have learned that leadership isn’t about being the most popular. It’s about showing up, listening, and helping people when they need it. The volunteering experience I’m most proud of is my Girl Scout Gold Award project, “It’s Not Just Black & Blue.” I partnered with local nonprofits to set up assemblies at local schools to teach students about domestic violence in teen relationships. So far, 150 students have attended the program, and many more have been reached through my social media presence on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. I also plan to visit different schools each October in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. To make the program possible, I coordinated volunteers from local domestic abuse resources and school administrators, and I created a short video for the opening of my presentation, which will be shown in future assemblies and has even been integrated into the training program of my local police department. During the assemblies, students participated in interactive discussions, asked questions, and engaged with the material to learn where to find support. One student even shared that the presentation helped her understand that a relationship she had recently ended had several red flags as abusive, giving her a sense of peace. Experiences like this have shown me how much these conversations matter, and I also created online resources so students could access help privately if they weren’t ready to speak up. Recently, I went on a mission trip with my school to the Dominican Republic, and it was life-changing. We painted schools, fed people who were hungry, and worked with local residents to improve their communities. I also led activities focused on compassion, humility, and service. At the end of the trip, I was baptized on a local beach, it was life changing. That experience showed me that service isn’t just about giving. It’s also about learning, building connections, and seeing the world from a different perspective. Being school president and a police explorer has taught me even more about leadership through service. As president, I visited classrooms to hear what students needed, organized events and clubs, and followed through on my promises. As a police explorer, I worked alongside officers to help the community and saw how responsibility and action go hand in hand. These experiences showed me that leadership isn’t about giving orders. It’s about stepping up, supporting others, and helping them succeed. Leadership through service matters because it creates real impact while encouraging others to do the same. Volunteering isn’t just about completing tasks. It’s about listening, learning, and finding ways to make a difference in people’s lives. Through “It’s Not Just Black & Blue,” my mission trip, and my other volunteer work, I’ve seen how one person’s effort can inspire others to take action and make a community stronger. Through all of this, I’ve learned that leadership is a choice to care, to serve, and to put effort into helping others. By serving others, I can inspire people to pay it forward and continue that cycle of positive change.

My twin brother Marc and I were born fourteen weeks early on Christmas morning. We were so small and fragile that the doctors didn’t expect us to survive. I spent 123 days in the NICU, but Marc went home after 97. That short gap is the only time we’ve ever been apart. From the very beginning we’ve relied on each other. Being born prematurely shaped how I face challenges and taught me that I am never truly alone. Growing up, we loved using our imaginations. We made little plays for our family, sang at the top of our lungs, crafted, told jokes, and swam all summer long. Even recently, we were in a high school production of Annie. Marc was Daddy Warbucks, I was Lily St. Regis. It was our last high school play together, and performing side by side felt bittersweet, a reminder of all the moments we’ve shared. We tease each other like siblings do, but it was always in fun, and we laughed until our sides hurt. Those moments taught me how much joy comes from creating, laughing, and just being together. School wasn’t always easy for me. Marc faces physical challenges because he has cerebral palsy. He can walk, but using his hands is difficult. Sometimes he’d get frustrated, but he never gave up. Marc helped me through my learning challenges, taught me math, guided me in writing essays, and even supported me when I ran for school president. With his encouragement, and his help on my campaign…I won. Watching him persevere taught me patience, determination, and how to support someone even when it’s hard. I try to do the same for him: helping with tasks, cheering him on, or just being there. Our faith in Christ has guided us through many challenges. Recently, we went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. It was the first time we had been away from our parents for so long. Everything felt new—the people, the routines, even the food. Having Marc there made everything feel possible. Serving others showed me how God works through simple actions to teach and guide us. During that trip, Marc and I both decided to be baptized. Standing side by side, I felt God’s presence more deeply than ever. I was not alone. Marc and I have also volunteered together for years through our school’s Key Club, where Marc is president. We visit nursing homes, make care bags, collect items for Operation Christmas Child, and lead groups at Vacation Bible Schools. Teaching kids about Jesus and helping our community has become something we love doing together. These experiences, sometimes messy, sometimes funny, sometimes exhausting, have shown me that meaningful connections are built through empathy, service, and simply showing up for others. Looking ahead, we’re both excited to attend Cairn University this fall. I’m eager to continue our journey together while also forging my own path. Marc has given me the strength to navigate life’s challenges and shown me that I am capable of giving and receiving love. Because of him, I approach all my relationships with patience, encouragement, and a desire to lift others up—whether helping a friend, mentoring a younger student, or working on a team. Looking back, I see how God has worked through my brother and me in both small and big ways. Every challenge, every act of support, every ordinary moment has shaped who I am. My story isn’t about one dramatic event—it’s about how God is faithful in the quiet moments, teaching us to love, serve, and trust Him. Honestly? I wouldn’t trade a single day of it. It’s brought me closer to my brother and closer to God—and it has shown me how to build meaningful connections with everyone I meet.