No matter if I miss-kicked the ball, lost a game, or was recovering from injury, the proclamation “Keep your head up” has been a staple in my life, a motto I live by. Because life is too short to let anything hold you back from potential success. Aside from soccer, one of my deep passions is art. I have found that art is subjective; everyone experiences it differently. After immersing myself in college-level art lectures and studios, I learned that, no matter the medium or image, it is the purposeful application of the charcoal, pen, or brushstroke that evokes meaningful emotion. I am now able to channel my hardships, goals, and everyday experiences into my art, furthering my creative outreach to others. I have always valued creativity in my life–whether that be in my eagerness to make the best reading journal in first grade or to spend hours brainstorming for a computer science drawing project. This quality makes it impossible for me to settle for mediocrity in both assignments and in life aspirations. At 10 years old, I learned how important it was to take pleasure in every moment–no matter if one has 70 years or months left to live. When the father of my best friend practically dropped dead during our championship soccer game, suffering from cardiac arrest, my 10 year-old-self, scared and distraught, tried to console his family. But this experience opened my eyes to the fact that every day could be the last, and thus every day matters. Because you never know when your time will be up. This man, who was like my second father, always said “Keep your head up”…because you choose how you feel about life events, and should never let something destroy your spirit or ruin your day. His physical heart may have failed, but he lives today because he chose to have heart, to be strong and retain positivity throughout his heart transplant and subsequent recovery program, something I strove to emulate through tutoring, volunteer coaching, and community outreach. About a year later, one of my close friends was diagnosed with a rare disease and started a charity–Fighting H.A.R.D.–for kids like her, to create a community for kids enduring stressful and life-altering procedures. Instead of remaining alone to deal with maladies and trepidation for the future, these kids are surrounded with comfort, reassurance, support. I joined her, raising money to support these families and befriending sick children in need of levity, often through artwork and outings. Through these experiences, I developed the ability to create connections among disparate individuals and thrive in uncomfortability. Months later, I was diagnosed with a heart condition. The aforementioned individuals became my role models: if they could endure heart transplants, surgeries, and dangerous procedures without complaint, and still put others first, then I could too. Navigating the world of medicine as a patient is scary, but I realized my condition was manageable compared to others’, which provided perspective. I was high school valedictorian, in part because of my drive to work hard and excel academically, but also because of my athletic competitive drive and passion for service. I strive to achieve financial independence and a prosperous career where I can give back to others. This scholarship would help me cover educational expenses whilst continuing community work. With my future in economics and art studio, I will effectively assess resource allocation for the foundation, fundraise creatively, as well as develop policy development initiatives with lasting impacts on community health and vivacity. Everyone should “pay it forward” to promote a tight-knit, supportive, lasting community.