The day before the final state championship for my high school track career, my hopes to hit a final season best for myself and relay teams crashed and burned with my unexpected high fever. This might have been the worst timing for sickness I could have imagined. It was the week after I was on a high from qualifying for states, prom, and realizing I was one week closer to graduating. All the final days that everyone talked about were a reality for me, and I believed nothing could ruin this feeling. The sudden sickness outbreak, however, changed the trajectory of this final accomplishment. States this year meant a lot to me, after going for three years and hoping to break the school record that I had once achieved two years prior. Everything from my four years of track lead up to that day. Running track had slowly become a major part of my life after succeeding in my high school career. Up until the morning of states, I threw away any hope of running this last race with my teammates. After multiple medication rounds and prayers, my fever broke and I had approval to try to drive up and run the same day. My coaches encouraged me to just try, no matter the outcome. After a long day of running two relays and an individual race, somehow I managed to finish with a season best individually and on a team. This moment in my life, while being very recent, shaped my mindset on perseverance and selflessness. Running not only benefitted my individual times, but put my relays in an advantage they would not have had from substituting me with an alternate. I decided to put my own feelings and lack of motivation aside and show up for the younger runners looking up to me as their captain and friend. This special moment with my team and coaches will always be a bittersweet memory that I hold to remind myself to not let a challenge stop me from being the best version of myself. I aspire to pursue further education and not allow the tribulations of the world, whether it is finances, family, friends, or just everyday challenges, to stop me from succeeding at the highest level. I want to make a positive impact on those around me and help others learn exactly what I did. Sometimes the challenge blocking the road stops us from seeing past it into the world of blessings ahead of it. Whether I pursue higher levels of running, or use my experience to coach others to be the best version of themselves, I will always remember that moment and community that allowed me to step up and show up for others.

Growing up fearing the unpredictable behavior of a dementia ridden grandmother in a home that does not feel familiar can bring unseen difficulties and surprises while attempting to grow and succeed in life. I believe that motivated and high achieving students from disadvantaged backgrounds deserve to be given the same opportunities through scholarships or grants. Many change-makers grow up in a world where they are told that they can never get out of the life they have been given, but I believe the opposite. I think using these tribulations as motivation to be the best and stand out can bring the opportunities needed to grow and flourish. After living in a home with limited family and challenges from taking care of my grandmother, I learned that the world does not stop for my problems. I have to move on from where I stand and adapt to everyone around me, instead of expecting them to slow down for me. Whether it was staying later at school to be able to focus and keep my grades up, or sleep at other friends houses so that I would have a ride to school in the morning, I learned how to get things done. I became more motivated to seek higher education and not let circumstances stop my life. Look at some of the most successful people out there. Most did not come from rich perfect lives. People like Walt Disney, Lebron James, or Oprah Winfrey came from humble beginnings, yet are some of the biggest names out there. They did not let their lack of money or approval stop them from chasing the top, and that is the same reason why students from disadvantaged backgrounds deserve the same opportunities. It would be a waste of talent and intelligence to discount a person due to their lack of money or family. Judging a person by their cover only limits the world to its innovative potential. I hope scholarships like these allow me to use my mind to benefit others around me in my future.