The Resilience Of Being Leader: Constant Improvement And Growth The concept of being someone that others can look up to is not easy to become. Anyone can take the lead and start to give instructions but only a great leader can take a vision of those who follow them and bring out the best within everyone. This is something that I had to learn and still continue to improve upon. Since I was young I have been a part of "Master Touch" where me and some church members go to different parts within our community and give out to the less fortunate. This program that I was introduced to very early on shaped me as it gave me the opportunity to learn about people and have compelling conversations with those who knew more about the world than me. These lessons honestly shaped me into someone who wanted to help people on my own and make the change I have seen others make. This led for me becoming an Elder my ninth grade year in high school within the Master Touch and now become 1 of 2 members who is in charge of setting up the trips, having the money to provide, and organizing the whole group to know who is coming or not. Being able to advance to such a position was not only a goal for me but also showed me my ability to create a sense of unity and commitment within a team. Emotional intelligence is something that I learned while being a leader and how crucial it is for any effective leader to remove their pride and connect with others on a personal level. After being able to lead such an amazing group of people it has shown me that I am not a leader because I can set a schedule or create an event, but what really makes me able to lead is my willingness for feedback and making sure everyone involved feels important. Small things like remembering birthdays and showing up on time to every meeting is what makes me a leader. Accountability for the decisions I make and understanding that everyone included is different and each deserves respect in their own right. Leading has not been easy, however; it is the real reason I realize that I am not perfect. Even if my ideas may seem perfect, working as a team to achieve goals and expectations is what creates an environment for everyone to feel valued and ultimately make the best decisions. Growth is the main reason I am a leader because I know that a mindset that is willing to not only lead by example but be open to development is what leads to a complete success. Thank you for the opportunity and your consideration.

I have been in many communities due to how I have moved from different places in my life. When I lived with Laurel I was an active member of the neighborhood watch where at a young age I would tutor children in pre-K and kindergarten. Also due to my going to school, I was able to get some kids to join us in community activities such as pool parties and cookouts held for an apartment complex. A community activity that is a regular part of my life is Master Touch where every other weekend we go to places where we feed and preach to the less fortunate. I have been present in this church organization all my life. From the age of five, my mother would take me and my brothers with her as they would help those on the streets and these same ideals have been shared with me. Going out to places that are not thought about is what I think connects me to a community on a deeper level compared to others. It continually reminds me of the position I am and how everyone's life is different and unique in some way. During my years in the church, I have moved from a small position into being a major leader in the group where I organize and coordinate many of the meetings. The long years that I have been in Master Touch has hopefully touched someone, I truly believe that even if one person was effectively positive by my being there then my job was successful. My ultimate future goal is to become a surgeon who can help others and be empathic to their situations. After high school, college is the next step in biomedical sciences where I can learn more about my field and connect with more people that have similar interests. My reason for my goal is to help people in life-changing situations for the better. I also want to communicate with patients and see what they are going through to connect with them on a personal level. Early life has had a huge impact on my career path because stories and experiences that I have had, have shaped my ideals. If everything goes correctly in college then medical school for 4 years will be the next goal. I have already taken steps to be successful and this scholarship is a large step to being successful on my career path.

My career goals are rather dedicated toward further education due to how I was brought up and my own experiences that make me want to drive forward in the medical field. To be specific my dream job would be to own a hospital and be a surgeon. My career goal of going into the medical field is not a random one, however. At the age of 10, my older brother had been diagnosed with a brain tumor that had been growing on his frontal lobe. This required surgery in order for him to be ok. The surgery lasted hours and after we heard the good news about how the surgery went I met with one of the surgeons and asked him about his experience during the surgery. His direct and stern attitude while talking to me, hit me like a brick. I felt as though there was no passion for what he did. I saw his profession as amazing, to be able to help people in such major ways however I didn't like his demeanor towards us as a family. After that situation, I felt as though the medical field needs more people who care about the people they treat on a personal level. This would of course take much more work, but it's work I'm willing to do. However, the main reason that I deserve this scholarship is due to my unyielding passion to push forward. Not only will this scholarship be a direct step forward into a future that I have worked towards most of my life but will also be direct evidence that hard work truly does pay off. The scholarship benefits not only me but my family financially. The reality of the world is that the college that you want to go to is not always determined by your academics but by your family's financial state. Due to this fact, this scholarship will motivate me further in my academic journey. Change being something that is never-ending and always happening allows me to use my adaptability to become the best I can be. This opportunity is something I will not miss due to how crucial it is to my future. The scholarship will be something that will directly affect my future. Like I method earlier I am not the type to give up even if my goal runs away from me. This pushes me to become the best of who I am along with my education.