Life has a way of reminding us just how unpredictable it can be. You never truly know how long you have or when everything might change, so I’ve learned to make the most of every minute. This lesson hit close to home when my father was diagnosed with lung cancer. That moment shifted everything for our family. Suddenly, the constant competitions over board games and family poker nights seemed trivial compared to the real battle we now face. Yet, it was those very moments of competition and family bonding that I found strength to navigate this new obstacle. Growing up, competition was woven into the fabric of my life. Whether we were fighting over deals in Monopoly, trying to break my brother’s “poker face” during family game night, or analyzing plays after a soccer game, my family always thrived amidst challenges. Competition became second nature. We didn’t just compete; we analyzed everything. We’d spend hours discussing what went well and what didn’t, treating each game like a puzzle to solve. This environment shaped my drive to succeed and my ability to thrive under pressure. As a student-athlete at Williams College, I carry this competitive edge with me every day, both on the soccer field and in the classroom. I firmly believe that athletics teaches invaluable life skills: discipline, teamwork, and the ability to perform under pressure. These lessons have seamlessly transferred into my academic life. I’m pursuing a double major in economics and art studio, driven by my passion for both finance and creative expression. In the future, I plan to enter investment banking, where my competitive drive and love for strategic thinking will help me succeed. Simultaneously, I aim to continue creating art, using it as an outlet to explore and express myself beyond finance. Economics speaks to my analytical side and love for strategy. I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of finding ways to navigate high-pressure environments, which is why I plan to pursue a career in finance. The finance world is all about quick thinking, informed decisions, and performing under pressure–traits that my background in both sports and academics has refined. Art, on the other hand, allows me to express myself in a different way. While finance appeals to my strategic and logical side, art fuels my creativity. I see art and finance as two sides of the same coin–both requiring precision, a keen eye, and an ability to think outside the box. My goal is to continue to make art throughout my life, even as I focus on building a career in investment banking. My father’s diagnosis has reinforced the importance of living life with purpose, passion, and dedication. I’ve come to realize that life can change in an instant, and that has only strengthened my resolve to make the most of every opportunity. Family, faith, and competition are values that I understand deeply; I know what it means to work hard, set goals, and strive for success. As I pursue my academic and athletic ambitions, I do so with the knowledge that my dad is my support system. Amid his battle with lung cancer, seeing me succeed on the field provides him with moments of happiness and pride. It gives him something positive to focus on, and knowing that my success in sports and academics brings him even a small sense of joy motivates me to push harder, knowing that I’m not just competing for myself, but for him as well. It’s a way to share happiness and hope in a difficult time.

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.