Life often presents challenges and I have been presented with my fair share. When I was three and a half years old, I was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), which caused a benign tumor behind my right optic nerve. NF1 presented many difficulties in my life with accompanying conditions that I've worked hard to overcome. I have used these challenges to strengthen and develop myself. In first grade, I was diagnosed with a learning disability that made sequencing, remembering instructions and putting those instructions in order a challenge. I started first grade reading on a kindergarten level and remained behind until third grade. Usually I struggled with speech and had to go to speech therapy in school for 4 years to help me communicate more effectively. I’ve taken advantage of programs like tutoring and classroom assistants to practice chinking concepts and writing instructions to overcome my sequencing challenges. Along the way in Elementary school I represented my school in many events. One way was in 5th grade where I went with our schools guidance counselor and gave a check to United Way. Then in 5th grade I did 2 things In a row on graduation day. The first was going to represent our school with a few other schools at the star awards and to get our schools award. Afterward, I lead the pledge of allegiance for my graduating class. Another one of my conditions that I had was muscle weakness which made playing sports for me hard. So to try and help myself I tried some things to help me gain some muscles mass starting with taekwondo. I did it for three years and got up to a purple belt but stopped shortly after that due to me having to move away to West Virginia. In West Virginia during middle school and my first year of high school I went through occupational therapy. It helped me to be able to gain more muscle mass and be able to better myself. As I stated before, I moved to West Virginia in middle school and I had a hard time fitting it and didn't feel comfortable there. But one of my teachers told me about the towns local boy scout troop and so we went to a meeting. After that I've been in boy scouts ever since bettering my leadership, kindness, feeling to help people, and be adventurous. In 2021, I went with my Troop to Philmont which is a huge hiking trek in New Mexico, in which we hiked over 60 miles in 9 days. And then in 2023 I went with my council contingent to the National Jamboree and had a lot of fun and made new friends. Currently I am one of the patrol leaders in my troop and lead a few kids in my troop. Also, to better my leadership skills, as well as being able to calm my anxiety leading people I went to a program that lasted 6 weeks during the summer. That program is called the Bender Leadership Academy which is for kids with disabilities that want help to better their leadership skills. Over the six weeks we had guest speakers and activities to help understand what it takes to be a leader. In the end it helped me feel more comfortable about my leadership skills. To summarize, even though I have a disorder that has affected my life I haven't let it get me down. Through which I've done many things to go through to better myself and overcome. Discovering what I can overcome and accomplish through self discovery and hardships.