It was summer time, football was just starting out, everyone was ecstatic. We felt invincible. Until we got the message. A teammate had passed. Taken too soon by a car crash. Suddenly I was not so invincible. The ephemeral nature of life stunned me. The grief seeped into everyone close and distant friends alike. The loss of life eclipsed the significance of any game. Our teammates passing was especially jarring to a few of our captains, who were extremely close with him. However the next day they shifted the paradigm. This soul draining event became what the season was dedicated to. We were grateful to still be alive. It would've be criminal to waste even the smallest opportunity to grow because of how lucky we were. This reminder of my own mortality, changed my perspective. Being tired or lazy were no longer an excuses. The blessing of life could not be wasted. The team captains helped everyone understand we could not waste our days because we never know when it could all be over. We came to practice each day with gratitude and it did wonders for our attitude and effort. My captains taught me to be grateful despite bumps and roadblocks, making them into springboards to success. We could have made plenty excuses that year but we worked hard to have best year yet. While you may get knocked down you can either choose to respond positively, and get back up, with a grateful mindset or stay down. I was inspired by my captains and wanted to follow in their footsteps which was a big part of the reason I pursued a leadership role on the team this year. So I joined the team Leadership council. Every knockdown presents a challenge but more importantly an opportunity to be grateful.

Practicing bravery an diving boldly is all about being the best version of your self. Each day is like a mountain and you must take the decision to climb to its top and face its challenges. Its only after you attack the mountain that you grow as a person you may fall or stumble but that will only prepare you for the next climb. The only way past mountains is through. Life's problems and challenges must be faced head on like climbing a mountain, one step at a time. You have to focus on the next step rather than a shortcut otherwise you'll miss your step and fall. I run the 110 meter hurdles and have only recently been any good. I started running in the 7th grade, went to every practice and worked hard.. And I got smoked in every race. I tried again next year hoping it would be better. It was but I still did not even place. Meaning I was slower than 6th place and got no points for the team. It took me over 2 years before I even placed in a race. However, I kept climbing the mountain. I didn't look for a shortcut around the mountain and I kept practicing and getting better until I was the undefeated district champion last year. There are mountains everywhere and the only way to get what you want is to climb them, rather than looking for a shortcut or way around.

I am passionate about pursuing a computer engineering career because I was inspired by my mentor Mr Bobo. I have always been fascinated by technology and wanted to understand how we as humanity have achieved so much. This was in large part due to what an amazing teacher and influence he was to me. He gave me an idea. I would give back by serving as a teacher/mentor to tech interested but illiterate youth in my local church. I was a part of the church media/technical crew and now need to train new members. I want to be sure I am equipping them with the best possible training to raise the group to new heights. I want to use the scholarship to make going to college easier and allow me to then give back to the church teens. Mr. Bobo introduced me to computer maintenance and helped me get certified with CompTIA. CompTia A+ carries globally-recognized ISO/ANSI accreditations and is the industry standard in Information technology so It was quite the opportunity for me to be able to get certified through my school technical program. With my understanding of informational technology which is the practical application of technology I can apply what I learn on the job to my major in computer engineering. By understanding how people apply technology I can help make that technology better suited to the people who need it.

I believe mountains are everywhere. I believe there is a high chance in life you'll find one in your way. I believe they are imposing, reach dizzying heights and are covered in unforgiving terrain. I believe they are a challenge. Yet ask any mountain climber and they will tell you the feeling of climbing and conquering one is unbeatable. I believe the meaning of life lies in climbing mountains. The only way past mountains is through. Life's problems and challenges must be faced head on like climbing a mountain, one step at a time. You have to focus on the next step rather than a shortcut otherwise you'll miss your step and fall. I run the 110 meter hurdles and have only recently been any good. I started running in the 7th grade, went to every practice and worked hard.. And I got smoked in every race. I tried again next year hoping it would be better. It was but I still did not even place. Meaning I was slower than 6th place and got no points for the team. It took me over 2 years before I even placed in a race. However, I kept climbing the mountain. I didn't look for a shortcut around the mountain and I kept practicing and getting better until I was the undefeated district champion last year. There are mountains everywhere and the only way to get what you want is to climb them, rather than looking for a shortcut or way around. The meaning of life is to get better at life to make the things that were hard yesterday easy today through repetition and practice becoming the best version of yourself. I believe all you need to do is look to a mountain climber to find the meaning of life.

One thing I fuel my life with is pursuing a computer engineering career. This is in part due to the fact I was inspired by my mentor Mr Bobo. I have always been fascinated by technology and wanted to understand how we as humanity have achieved so much. This was in large part due to what an amazing teacher and influence he was to me. He gave me an idea. I would give back by serving as a teacher/mentor to tech interested but illiterate youth in my local church. I was a part of the church media/technical crew and now need to train new members. I want to be sure I am equipping them with the best possible training to raise the group to new heights. I want to use the scholarship to make going to college easier and allow me to then give back to the church teens. Another one of my passions is Highschool football. The sense of brotherhood and the lessons playing the sport taught me i don't think I could have fund any where else. I was blessed to have a great coaching staff that helped make sure i wasn't just a good layer on the field but a good an off it as well. The memories and long hours will always be so much fun to look back and think about, but I'm not planning on putting that ball down-for good-anytime soon.

It was summer time, football was just starting out, everyone was ecstatic. We felt invincible. Until we got the message. A teammate had passed. Taken too soon by a car crash. Suddenly I was not so invincible. The ephemeral nature of life stunned me. The grief seeped into everyone close and distant friends alike. The loss of life eclipsed the significance of any game. Our teammates passing was especially jarring to a few of our captains, who were extremely close with him. However the next day they shifted the paradigm. This soul draining event became what the season was dedicated to. Every play was for our friend. I felt it would be criminal to waste even the smallest opportunity to grow because of how lucky we were. This reminder of my own mortality, and the captain's new mindset changed my perspective. Being tired was no longer an excuses. I looked at my captains and saw them attack each day for their friend that couldn't. They did not let him be an excuse to slack. An event does not define you or your outcome. Life is going to knock you down and only you can decide to make a turnaround. My captains taught me to turn bumps and roadblocks into springboards. We had plenty excuses that year but instead we had our best year yet. While you may get knocked down you can either choose to respond positively, and get back up, or stay down and quit. I was inspired by my captains and wanted to follow in their footsteps which was a big part of the reason I pursued a leadership role on the team this year. So I joined the team Leadership council. Every knockdown presents a challenge but more importantly an opportunity to get standup stronger than ever.

Life's problems and challenges must be faced head on and with persistence- like climbing a mountain- one step at a time. You have to focus on the next step rather than a shortcut otherwise you'll miss your step and fall. I run the 110 meter hurdles and have only recently been any good. I started running in the 7th grade, went to every practice and worked hard.. And I got smoked in every race. I tried again next year hoping it would be better. It was but I still did not even place. Meaning I was slower than 6th place and got no points for the team. It took me over 2 years before I even placed in a race. However, I kept climbing the mountain. I didn't look for a shortcut around the mountain and I kept practicing and getting better until I was the undefeated district champion last year. There are mountains everywhere and the only way to get what you want is to climb them, rather than looking for a shortcut or way around.

To put it simply, there are not many black men in the STEM space. When I got to my Computer maintenance career and technology class one of the first things I noticed was there were only 3 other black men in the class. However I was lucky enough to have my teacher-Mr. Bobo-be one of them. He became a mentor to me. He brought it to my attention that it was not just our class that lacked diversity but the wider field as well. He encouraged me to work hard and represent for black men everywhere as there were so few of us. He is a big reason why I want to go into the tech field, to defeat the negative stereotypes of black men being lazy or stupid but show we are competent hard workers. I am passionate about pursuing a computer engineering career because I was inspired by my mentor Mr Bobo. I have always been fascinated by technology and wanted to understand how we as humanity have achieved so much. This was in large part due to what an amazing teacher and influence he was to me. He gave me an idea. I would give back by serving as a teacher/mentor to tech interested but illiterate youth in my local church. I was a part of the church media/technical crew and now need to train new members. I want to be sure I am equipping them with the best possible training to raise the group to new heights. I want to use the scholarship to make going to college easier and allow me to then give back to the church teens hopefully inspiring them the sae way Mr bobo inspired me. Mr. Bobo introduced me to computer maintenance and helped me get certified with CompTIA. CompTia A+ carries globally-recognized ISO/ANSI accreditations and is the industry standard in Information technology so It was quite the opportunity for me to be able to get certified through my school technical program. With my understanding of informational technology which is the practical application of technology I can apply what I learn on the job to my major in computer engineering. By understanding how people apply technology I can help make that technology better suited to the people who need it. Mr. Bobo played a big role in me finally settling on a STEM major. Mr. Bobo believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. I was inspired by Mr Bobo's positivity and willingness to come to work despite negative things in his own personal life. His example was a big part of the reason I pursued a leadership role on my football team this year. I ended up joining the Leadership council and am working to pass on what He taught me: That every knockdown presents a challenge but more importantly an opportunity to get standup stronger than ever. A wise man once summed it up in this maxim: Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves back up. So I would help increase the representation for black men in stem by becoming one and inspiring others to do the same.

I am passionate about pursuing a computer engineering career because I was inspired by my mentor Mr Bobo. I have always been fascinated by technology and wanted to understand how we as humanity have achieved so much. This was in large part due to what an amazing teacher and influence he was to me. He gave me an idea. I would give back by serving as a teacher/mentor to tech interested but illiterate youth in my local church. I was a part of the church media/technical crew and now need to train new members. I want to be sure I am equipping them with the best possible training to raise the group to new heights. I want to use the scholarship to make going to college easier and allow me to then give back to the church teens. Mr. Bobo introduced me to computer maintenance and helped me get certified with CompTIA. CompTia A+ carries globally-recognized ISO/ANSI accreditations and is the industry standard in Information technology so It was quite the opportunity for me to be able to get certified through my school technical program. With my understanding of informational technology which is the practical application of technology I can apply what I learn on the job to my major in computer engineering. By understanding how people apply technology I can help make that technology better suited to the people who need it.

One thing I am passionate about is pursuing a computer engineering career because I was inspired by my mentor Mr Bobo. I have always been fascinated by technology and wanted to understand how we as humanity have achieved so much. This was in large part due to what an amazing teacher and influence he was to me. He gave me an idea. I would give back by serving as a teacher/mentor to tech interested but illiterate youth in my local church. I was a part of the church media/technical crew and now need to train new members. I want to be sure I am equipping them with the best possible training to raise the group to new heights. I want to use the scholarship to make going to college easier and allow me to then give back to the church teens. Another one of my passions is Highschool football. The sense of brotherhood and the lessons playing the sport taught me i don't think I could have fund any where else. I was blessed to have a great coaching staff that helped make sure i wasn't just a good layer on the field but a good an off it as well. The memories and long hours will always be so much fun to look back and think about, but I'm not planning on putting that ball down-for good-anytime soon.

I am passionate about pursuing a computer engineering career because I was inspired by my mentor Mr Bobo. I have always been fascinated by technology and wanted to understand how we as humanity have achieved so much. This was in large part due to what an amazing teacher and influence he was to me. He gave me an idea. I would give back by serving as a teacher/mentor to tech interested but illiterate youth in my local church. I was a part of the church media/technical crew and now need to train new members. I want to be sure I am equipping them with the best possible training to raise the group to new heights. I want to use the scholarship to make going to college easier and allow me to then give back to the church teens.

It was summer time, football was just starting out, everyone was ecstatic. We felt invincible. Until we got the message. A teammate had passed. Taken too soon by a car crash. Suddenly I was not so invincible. The ephemeral nature of life stunned me. The grief seeped into everyone close and distant friends alike. The loss of life eclipsed the significance of any game. Our teammates passing was especially jarring to a few of our captains, who were extremely close with him. However the next day they shifted the paradigm. This soul draining event became what motivated us. Every play was for our friend. I felt it would be criminal to waste even the smallest opportunity to grow because of how lucky we were. This reminder of my own mortality, and the captain's new mindset changed my perspective. Being tired was no longer an excuses. I looked at my captains and saw them attack each day for their friend that couldn't. They did not let him be an excuse to slack. A painful event does not define you but serves as motivation. Life is going to knock you down and only you can decide to make a turnaround. My captains taught me to turn bumps and roadblocks into springboards. We had plenty excuses that year but instead we had our best year yet. While you may get knocked down you can either choose to respond positively, and get back up, or stay down and quit. I was inspired by my captains and wanted to follow in their footsteps which was a big part of the reason I pursued a leadership role on the team this year. So I joined the team Leadership council. Every knockdown presents a challenge but more importantly an opportunity to get standup stronger than ever.

I want my legacy to inspire others to preserve through problems. This has a lot to do with the captains of my football team that I looked up to and learned from. So i want to be the same thing for someone else even in the midst of personal trouble My captains turned a soul draining event-the loss of a teammate-into what the season was dedicated to. Every play was for our friend. I felt it would be criminal to waste even the smallest opportunity to grow because of how lucky we were. This reminder of my own mortality, and the captain's new mindset changed my perspective. Being tired was no longer an excuses. I looked at my captains and saw them attack each day for their friend that couldn't. They did not let him be an excuse to slack. An event does not define you or your outcome. Life is going to knock you down and only you can decide to make a turnaround. My captains taught me to turn bumps and roadblocks into springboards. We had plenty excuses that year but instead we had our best year yet. While you may get knocked down you can either choose to respond positively, and get back up, or stay down and quit. I was inspired by my captains and wanted to follow in their footsteps which was a big part of the reason I pursued a leadership role on the team this year. So I joined the team Leadership council. Every knockdown presents a challenge but more importantly an opportunity to get standup stronger than ever.

If I could share one sentence it would be: An event plus your response equals the outcome. An event does not define you or your outcome. Life is going to knock you down and only you can decide to make a turnaround. I learned to turn bumps and roadblocks into springboards. While you may get knocked down you can either choose to respond positively, and get back up, or stay down and quit. I was inspired by the captains of my high school football team and wanted to follow in their footsteps which was a big part of the reason I pursued a leadership role on the team this year. So I joined the team Leadership council. Every knockdown presents a challenge but more importantly an opportunity to get standup stronger than ever.

It was summer time, football was just starting out, everyone was ecstatic. We felt invincible. Until we got the message. A teammate had passed. Taken too soon by a car crash. Suddenly I was not so invincible. The ephemeral nature of life stunned me. The grief seeped into everyone close and distant friends alike. The loss of life eclipsed the significance of any game. Our teammates passing was especially jarring to a few of our captains, who were extremely close with him. However the next day they shifted the paradigm. This soul draining event became what the season was dedicated to. Every play was for our friend. I felt it would be criminal to waste even the smallest opportunity to grow because of how lucky we were. This reminder of my own mortality, and the captain's new mindset changed my perspective. Being tired was no longer an excuses. I looked at my captains and saw them attack each day for their friend that couldn't. They did not let him be an excuse to slack. An event does not define you or your outcome. Life is going to knock you down and only you can decide to make a turnaround. My captains taught me to turn bumps and roadblocks into springboards. We had plenty excuses that year but instead we had our best year yet. While you may get knocked down you can either choose to respond positively, and get back up, or stay down and quit. I was inspired by my captains and wanted to follow in their footsteps which was a big part of the reason I pursued a leadership role on the team this year. So I joined the team Leadership council. Every knockdown presents a challenge but more importantly an opportunity to get standup stronger than ever.

I believe the key to a healthy life is climbing mountains. Mountains are everywhere and the more you climb the easier it becomes to climb them. Life is full of challenges and problems meaning there are always going to be obstacles and things getting in the way of where you want to go. Everyday a new problem is going to come and that means a new mountain to climb. However it serves a purpose. Each challenge prepares you for the next like how we all learned to add and subtract before multiplying and dividing because the second part builds on the first. Challenges are everywhere. Each challenge shapes you for the next one. Another example would be golf balls. When golf was still new the balls looked nothing like they do now. They were perfectly smooth. However they didn't go very far and were prone to swerving through the air. Making it extremely difficult to judge shots. It wasn't until someone noticed that as a ball got older it became easier to play with, and Its flight became more predictable. The more times it was putted and dented and scratched the better it played. They realized the dents helped the ball deal with the air resistance and fly straight. This just shows the challenges and mountains we climb help shape us to fly farther and do better on the next challenge. I believe climbing mountains is the key to a long healthy life. I believe there is no use avoiding or trying to shortcut the multitude of mountains that life will put in your way, and that climbing them only gives you more preparation for the next. This I believe.

I am passionate about pursuing a computer engineering career because I was inspired by my mentor Mr Bobo. I have always been fascinated by technology and wanted to understand how we as humanity have achieved so much. This was in large part due to what an amazing teacher and influence he was to me. He gave me an idea. I would give back by serving as a teacher/mentor to tech interested but illiterate youth in my local church. I was a part of the church media/technical crew and now need to train new members. I want to be sure I am equipping them with the best possible training to raise the group to new heights. I want to use the scholarship to make going to college easier and allow me to then give back to the church teens. Mr. Bobo introduced me to computer maintenance and helped me get certified with CompTIA. CompTia A+ carries globally-recognized ISO/ANSI accreditations and is the industry standard in Information technology so It was quite the opportunity for me to be able to get certified through my school technical program. With my understanding of informational technology which is the practical application of technology I can apply what I learn on the job to my major in computer engineering. By understanding how people apply technology I can help make that technology better suited to the people who need it.

I am passionate about pursuing a computer engineering career because I was inspired by my mentor Mr Bobo. I have always been fascinated by technology and wanted to understand how we as humanity have achieved so much. This was in large part due to what an amazing teacher and influence he was to me. He gave me an idea. I would give back by serving as a teacher/mentor to tech interested but illiterate youth in my local church. I was a part of the church media/technical crew and now need to train new members. I want to be sure I am equipping them with the best possible training to raise the group to new heights. I want to use the scholarship to make going to college easier and allow me to then give back to the church teens. Mr. Bobo introduced me to computer maintenance and helped me get certified with CompTIA. CompTia A+ carries globally-recognized ISO/ANSI accreditations and is the industry standard in Information technology so It was quite the opportunity for me to be able to get certified through my school technical program. With my understanding of informational technology which is the practical application of technology I can apply what I learn on the job to my major in computer engineering. By understanding how people apply technology I can help make that technology better suited to the people who need it.

It was summer time, football was just starting out, everyone was ecstatic. We felt invincible. Until we got the message. A teammate had passed. Taken too soon by a car crash. Suddenly I was not so invincible. The ephemeral nature of life stunned me. The grief seeped into everyone close and distant friends alike. The loss of life eclipsed the significance of any game. Our teammates passing was especially jarring to a few of our captains, who were extremely close with him. However the next day they shifted the paradigm. This soul draining event became what the season was dedicated to. Every play was for our friend. I felt it would be criminal to waste even the smallest opportunity to grow because of how lucky we were. This reminder of my own mortality, and the captain's new mindset changed my perspective. Being tired was no longer an excuses. I looked at my captains and saw them attack each day for their friend that couldn't. They did not let him be an excuse to slack. An event does not define you or your outcome. Life is going to knock you down and only you can decide to make a turnaround. My captains taught me to turn bumps and roadblocks into springboards. We had plenty excuses that year but instead we had our best year yet. While you may get knocked down you can either choose to respond positively, and get back up, or stay down and quit. I was inspired by my captains and wanted to follow in their footsteps which was a big part of the reason I pursued a leadership role on the team this year. So I joined the team Leadership council. Every knockdown presents a challenge but more importantly an opportunity to get standup stronger than ever.

I am passionate about Stem and a computer engineering career because I was inspired by my mentor Mr Bobo. I became fascinated by technology in large part due to what an amazing teacher and influence Mr bobo was. Mr. Bobo introduced me to computer maintenance and helped me get certified with CompTIA which carries globally-recognized ISO/ANSI accreditations and is the industry standard in Information technology. I was certified through my school technical program. With my understanding of informational technology which is the practical application of technology I can better approach computer engineering. Understanding how people apply technology I can help make that technology better suited to the people who need it. Mr. Bobo played a big role in me finally settling on a STEM major. Mr. Bobo believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. When I was preparing for my certification I took a mock test to see if I could qualify for KATY ISD to pay for the certification exam. I did my best but I was still just barely below where I needed to be. I wanted to throw in the towel but Mr. Bobo took a chance with me seeing I was barely below the guideline. He approved and encouraged me. So I studied harder than ever before to get certified. I couldn't let him down. After the test I was overjoyed to receive my certification, and I could tell he was proud. He taught me It does not matter what life throws your way. It is your response to your situation that will change your outcome. One bad test score will only determine the outcome of your class if you respond by saying “I am going to fail anyways, what is the point?” Instead, by responding positively you can produce a positive outcome. By studying effectively and investing rather than just wasting time. Meaning while you may get knocked down you can either choose to respond positively, get back up, try again and give yourself the chance to succeed or stay down and quit effectively guaranteeing failure. I was inspired by Mr Bobo's positivity and willingness to come to work despite negative things in his own personal life. His example was a big part of the reason I pursued a leadership role on my football team this year. I ended up joining the Leadership council and am working to pass on what He taught me: That every knockdown presents a challenge but more importantly an opportunity to get standup stronger than ever. A wise man once summed it up in this maxim: Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves back up. So I continue to strive to succeed no matter what obstacles I may face because I refuse to let him down. Finally, to put it simply, there are not many black men in the STEM space. When I got to my Computer maintenance career and technology class one of the first things I noticed was there were only 2 other black men in the class. However I was lucky enough to have my teacher-Mr. Bobo be one of them. He became a mentor to me. He brought it to my attention that it was not just our class that lacked diversity but the wider field as well. He encouraged me to work hard and represent for black men everywhere as there were so few of us. He is a big reason why I want to go into the tech field, to defeat the negative stereotypes of black men being lazy or stupid but show we are competent hard workers.

I am passionate about giving back to others in the community because I have benefited so much from a mentor who inspired me. This Teacher-Mr. Bobo-introduced me to computer maintenance and helped me get certified with CompTIA. CompTia A+ carries globally-recognized ISO/ANSI accreditations and is the industry standard in Information technology so It was quite the opportunity for me to be able to get certified through my school technical program. With my understanding of informational technology which is the practical application of technology I can apply what I learn on the job to my major in computer engineering. By understanding how people apply technology I can help make that technology better suited to the people who need it. Mr. Bobo played a big role in me finally settling on a STEM major. Mr. Bobo believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. When I was preparing for my certification I took a mock test to see if I could qualify for KATY ISD to pay for the certification exam. I did my best but I was still just barely below where I needed to be. I wanted to throw in the towel but Mr. Bobo took a chance with me seeing I was barely below the guideline. He approved and encouraged me. So I studied harder than ever before to get certified. I couldn't let him down. After the test I was overjoyed to receive my certification, and I could tell he was proud. So I continue to strive to succeed no matter what obstacles I may face because I refuse to let him down. To put it simply, there are not many black men in the STEM space. When I got to my Computer maintenance career and technology class one of the first things I noticed was there were only 2 other black men in the class. However I was lucky enough to have my teacher-Mr. Bobo be one of them. He became a mentor to me. He brought it to my attention that it was not just our class that lacked diversity but the wider field as well. He encouraged me to work hard and represent for black men everywhere as there were so few of us. He is a big reason why I want to go into the tech field, to defeat the negative stereotypes of black men being lazy or stupid but show we are competent hard workers. I would give back by serving as a teacher/mentor to tech interested but illiterate youth in my local church. I was a part of the church media/technical crew and now need to train new members. I want to be sure I am equipping them with the best possible training to raise the group to new heights. I want to use the scholarship to make going to college easier and allow me to then give back to the church teens.

I like to relax and take care of my mental health through fun projects. One I had a lot of fun with was doing research and writing about Virtual reality. Which is a virtual experience that can mimic or be completely different from the real world. Virtual reality equipment can allow a person to look, and move around an artificial world, as well as interact with virtual features or items. Not just looking at a 2d screen but an interactive world that I could almost reach out and touch. VRs ability to put people in seemingly real world situations and capacity to effect them makes it a promising tool in targeting mental health. Rudimentary research has shown interacting in VR environments can have a positive effect on the mind, pointing to the possibility of using VR to keep anxiety and pain under control. VR can also help those suffering anxiety. Research done by the University of Bologna shows VR therapies have a promising future especially in palliative cancer care: “VR could represent a suitable complementary tool for psychological treatment in advanced cancer patients'' (Virtual Reality in Home Palliative Care: Brief Report on the Effect on Cancer-Related Symptomatology, 2021). These studies focused on helping cancer patients in palliative care deal with both physical pain and mental pains like anxiety. With more research and investment in VR medicine, research scientists and doctors believe they can make a tangible difference in reducing anxiety. VR environments can be developed to help people deal with their mental health and anxiety. More innovation in VR can only help improve the lives of millions of people suffering from physical pain and anxiety. I enjoy researching things like VR because I one day hope to be out there in the field creating cutting edge technology like it.

I am passionate about STEM because I have always been fascinated by technology and wanted to understand how we as humanity have achieved so much. I also was inspired by an amazing teacher Mr. Bobo. Mr. Bobo introduced me to computer maintenance and helped me get certified with CompTIA. CompTia A+ carries globally-recognized ISO/ANSI accreditations and is the industry standard in Information technology so It was quite the opportunity for me to be able to get certified through my school technical program. With my understanding of informational technology which is the practical application of technology I can apply what I learn on the job to my major in computer engineering. By understanding how people apply technology I can help make that technology better suited to the people who need it. Mr. Bobo played a big role in me finally settling on a STEM major. Mr. Bobo believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. When I was preparing for my certification I took a mock test to see if I could qualify for KATY ISD to pay for the certification exam. I did my best but I was still just barely below where I needed to be. I wanted to throw in the towel but Mr. Bobo took a chance with me seeing I was barely below the guideline. He approved and encouraged me. So I studied harder than ever before to get certified. I couldn't let him down. After the test I was overjoyed to receive my certification, and I could tell he was proud. So I continue to strive to succeed no matter what obstacles I may face because I refuse to let him down. Finally, to put it simply, there are not many black men in the STEM space. When I got to my Computer maintenance career and technology class one of the first things I noticed was there were only 2 other black men in the class. However I was lucky enough to have my teacher-Mr. Bobo be one of them. He became a mentor to me. He brought it to my attention that it was not just our class that lacked diversity but the wider field as well. He encouraged me to work hard and represent for black men everywhere as there were so few of us. He is a big reason why I want to go into the tech field, to defeat the negative stereotypes of black men being lazy or stupid but show we are competent hard workers. I would give back by serving as a teacher/mentor to tech interested but illiterate youth in my local church. I was a part of the church media/technical crew and now need to train new members. I want to be sure I am equipping them with the best possible training to raise the group to new heights. I want to use the scholarship to make going to college easier and allow me to then give back to the church teens.

Vince Lombardi once said: “It is not whether you get knocked down. It is whether you get back up.” I heard quotes like this, and heard all the speeches but it was not until this last year that perseverance became the quality I valued the most. It was summer time, football was just starting out, everyone was ecstatic. We felt invincible. Until we got the devastating message. A teammate was gone. Taken too soon by a car crash. Suddenly I did not feel so invincible. The ephemeral nature of life stunned me. The grief seemed to seep into everyone close and not so close friends alike. No one was themselves at practice that day, there was no longer any joy or hope for the season. The loss of life eclipsed the significance of any Friday night game. Our teammates passing was especially jarring to a few of our captains, who possessed an extremely close bond with him. However the next day they shifted the paradigm. This soul draining event became what the season was dedicated to. Every rep, every play was for our fallen friend. I felt it would be almost a sin to waste even the smallest opportunity to grow because of how lucky we were. The reminder of my own mortality, combined with the captain's new mindset switched my perspective. Being tired or sick of working out were no longer valid excuses. I looked at my captains and saw the way they came ready to work because their brother no longer could. They did not let him be an excuse for them to slack, but a reason to push harder. That year I got to really see what it meant to get knocked down and get back up. An event does not define you or your outcome. Rather it is the event along with your response that determine what happens next. Life is going to knock you down and only you can decide to get back up. My captains taught me to turn bumps and roadblocks into springboards. There were plenty of excuses to not have a good year: game cancellations, covid-19 and the loss of a teammate. Despite this we managed to produce our best season yet. Snapping not only our rivals' 12 year district win streak, but also winning the District Championship-for the first time in school history-as well. I learned it is your response to your situation that will change your outcome. Not just on the field but in the classroom as well; one bad test score will only determine the outcome of your class if you respond by giving up. Instead, by responding positively you may produce a positive outcome. By studying effectively and investing rather than just wasting time. Meaning while you may get knocked down you can either choose to respond positively, and get back up, or stay down and quit, effectively guaranteeing failure. I was inspired by my captain’s willingness to continue to grow despite the pain of losing a close friend. Their example was a big part of the reason I pursued a leadership role on the team this year. I joined the Leadership council and am working to pass on what my captains taught me in the adversity of that year: That every knockdown presents a challenge but more importantly an opportunity to get standup stronger than ever. A wise man once summed it up in this maxim: Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves back up.

I learned a lot about Leadership during my time on the OTHS football Leadership Council specifically being a good leader requires quite a bit of empathy. You have to be able to relate to your team and understand how they feel or they will be hesitant to follow you when it gets tough which is why during the offseason when the team was in boot-camp I kept the team on task and encouraged my teammates to not quit. Making sure they all felt important and key parts of the team. By understanding they were at times in great pain and felt unable to go on I was able to be there for them to push them on rather than just yelling at them which would disregard their feelings and invalidate their pain. You never know the kind of day someone had before you saw them and it is very important to take into account what they might have going on before ripping into them.

A hobby of mine is researching emerging technologies. One of my favorites is Virtual reality. Which is a virtual experience that can mimic or be completely different from the real world. Virtual reality equipment can allow a person to look, and move around an artificial world, as well as interact with virtual features or items. Not just looking at a 2d screen but an interactive world that I could almost reach out and touch. VRs ability to put people in seemingly real world situations and capacity to effect them makes it a promising tool in targeting mental health. Rudimentary research has shown interacting in VR environments can have a positive effect on the mind, pointing to the possibility of using VR to keep anxiety and pain under control. With virtual reality the future of medicine looks very promising. VR can also help those suffering anxiety. Research done by the University of Bologna shows VR therapies have a promising future especially in palliative cancer care: “VR could represent a suitable complementary tool for psychological treatment in advanced cancer patients'' (Virtual Reality in Home Palliative Care: Brief Report on the Effect on Cancer-Related Symptomatology, 2021). These studies focused on helping cancer patients in palliative care deal with both physical pain and mental pains like anxiety. With more research and investment in VR medicine, research scientists and doctors believe they can make a tangible difference in reducing anxiety. VR environments can be developed to help people deal with their mental health and anxiety. More innovation in VR can only help improve the lives of millions of people suffering from physical pain and anxiety. I enjoy researching things like VR because I one day hope to be out there in the field creating cutting edge technology like it.

It was summer time, football was just starting out, everyone was ecstatic. We felt invincible. Until we got the devastating message. A teammate was gone. Taken too soon by a car crash. Suddenly I did not feel so invincible. The ephemeral nature of life stunned me. The grief seemed to seep into everyone close and not so close friends alike. No one was themselves at practice that day, there was no longer any joy or hope for the season. The loss of life eclipsed the significance of any Friday night game. Our teammates passing was especially jarring to a few of our captains, who possessed an extremely close bond with him. However the next day they shifted the paradigm. This soul draining event became what the season was dedicated to. Every rep, every play was for our fallen friend. I felt it would be almost a sin to waste even the smallest opportunity to grow because of how lucky we were. The reminder of my own mortality, combined with the captain's new mindset switched my perspective. Being tired or sick of working out were no longer valid excuses. I looked at my captains and saw the way they came ready to work because their brother no longer could. They did not let him be an excuse for them to slack, but a reason to push harder. That year I got to really see what it meant to get knocked down and get back up. An event does not define you or your outcome. Rather it is the event along with your response that determine what happens next. Life is going to knock you down and only you can decide to get back up. My captains taught me to turn bumps and roadblocks into springboards. There were plenty of excuses to not have a good year: game cancellations, covid-19 and the loss of a teammate. Despite this we managed to produce our best season yet. Snapping not only our rivals' 12 year district win streak, but also winning the District Championship-for the first time in school history-as well. I learned it is your response to your situation that will change your outcome. Not just on the field but in the classroom as well; one bad test score will only determine the outcome of your class if you respond by giving up. I was inspired by my captain’s willingness to continue to grow despite the pain of losing a close friend. Their example was a big part of the reason I pursued a leadership role on the team this year. I joined the Leadership council and am working to pass on what my captains taught me in the adversity of that year: That every knockdown presents a challenge but more importantly an opportunity to get standup stronger than ever. A wise man once summed it up in this maxim: Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves back up. Through this scholarship I can gain the resources necessary to help tech illiterate teens in my church. I am part of my church media/technical crew and In my absence there is hole in the group that needs to be filled. New members must be trained. I want to be sure I am equipping them with the best possible training to raise the group to new heights. I want to use the scholarship to make going to college easier and allow me to then give back to the church teens what I have learned.

Vince Lombardi once said: “It is not whether you get knocked down. It is whether you get back up.” I heard quotes like this, and heard all the speeches but until this last year I did not really understand what it meant to persevere. I did not really know what it looked like to hurt, to cry, and not give up the fight. It was summer time, football was just starting out, everyone was ecstatic. We felt invincible. Until we got the devastating message. A teammate was gone. Taken too soon by a car crash. Suddenly I did not feel so invincible. The ephemeral nature of life stunned me. The grief seemed to seep into everyone close and not so close friends alike. No one was themselves at practice that day, there was no longer any joy or hope for the season. The loss of life eclipsed the significance of any Friday night game. Our teammates passing was especially jarring to a few of our captains, who possessed an extremely close bond with him. However the next day they shifted the paradigm. This soul draining event became what the season was dedicated to. Every rep, every play was for our fallen friend. I felt it would be almost a sin to waste even the smallest opportunity to grow because of how lucky we were. The reminder of my own mortality, combined with the captain's new mindset switched my perspective. Being tired or sick of working out were no longer valid excuses. I looked at my captains and saw the way they came ready to work because their brother no longer could. They did not let him be an excuse for them to slack, but a reason to push harder. That year I got to really see what it meant to get knocked down and get back up. An event does not define you or your outcome. Rather it is the event along with your response that determine what happens next. Life is going to knock you down and only you can decide to get back up. My captains taught me to turn bumps and roadblocks into springboards. There were plenty of excuses to not have a good year: game cancellations, covid-19 and the loss of a teammate. Despite this we managed to produce our best season yet. Snapping not only our rivals' 12 year district win streak, but also winning the District Championship-for the first time in school history-as well. I learned it is your response to your situation that will change your outcome. Not just on the field but in the classroom as well; one bad test score will only determine the outcome of your class if you respond by giving up. Instead, by responding positively you may produce a positive outcome. By studying effectively and investing rather than just wasting time. Meaning while you may get knocked down you can either choose to respond positively, and get back up, or stay down and quit, effectively guaranteeing failure. I was inspired by my captain’s willingness to continue to grow despite the pain of losing a close friend. Their example was a big part of the reason I pursued a leadership role on the team this year. I joined the Leadership council and am working to pass on what my captains taught me in the adversity of that year: That every knockdown presents a challenge but more importantly an opportunity to get standup stronger than ever. A wise man once summed it up in this maxim: Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves back up.

Vince Lombardi once said: “It is not whether you get knocked down. It is whether you get back up.” I heard quotes like this, and heard all the speeches but until this last year I did not really understand what it meant to persevere. I did not really know what it looked like to hurt, to cry, and not give up the fight. It was summer time, football was just starting out, everyone was ecstatic. We felt invincible. Until we got the devastating message. A teammate was gone. Taken too soon by a car crash. Suddenly I did not feel so invincible. The ephemeral nature of life stunned me. The grief seemed to seep into everyone close and not so close friends alike. No one was themselves at practice that day, there was no longer any joy or hope for the season. The loss of life eclipsed the significance of any Friday night game. Our teammates passing was especially jarring to a few of our captains, who possessed an extremely close bond with him. However the next day they shifted the paradigm. This soul draining event became what the season was dedicated to. Every rep, every play was for our fallen friend. I felt it would be almost a sin to waste even the smallest opportunity to grow because of how lucky we were. The reminder of my own mortality, combined with the captain's new mindset switched my perspective. Being tired or sick of working out were no longer valid excuses. I looked at my captains and saw the way they came ready to work because their brother no longer could. They did not let him be an excuse for them to slack, but a reason to push harder. That year I got to really see what it meant to get knocked down and get back up. An event does not define you or your outcome. Rather it is the event along with your response that determine what happens next. Life is going to knock you down and only you can decide to get back up. My captains taught me to turn bumps and roadblocks into springboards. There were plenty of excuses to not have a good year: game cancellations, covid-19 and the loss of a teammate. Despite this we managed to produce our best season yet. Snapping not only our rivals' 12 year district win streak, but also winning the District Championship-for the first time in school history-as well. I learned it is your response to your situation that will change your outcome. Not just on the field but in the classroom as well; one bad test score will only determine the outcome of your class if you respond by giving up. Instead, by responding positively you may produce a positive outcome. By studying effectively and investing rather than just wasting time. Meaning while you may get knocked down you can either choose to respond positively, and get back up, or stay down and quit, effectively guaranteeing failure. I was inspired by my captain’s willingness to continue to grow despite the pain of losing a close friend. Their example was a big part of the reason I pursued a leadership role on the team this year. I joined the Leadership council and am working to pass on what my captains taught me in the adversity of that year: That every knockdown presents a challenge but more importantly an opportunity to get standup stronger than ever. A wise man once summed it up in this maxim: Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves back up. I would use this scholarship to lighten the burden of paying for college, freeing me to empower others by helping spread tech literacy and teach teens in my church skills to equip them for a technological future. Many have shown an interest in technology but don't know what to do with it. I want to help these teens chase their passions and help guide them to be successful adults and build a new future for themselves. Through this scholarship I can gain the resources necessary to help them. I am part of my church media/technical crew and In my absence there is hole in the group that needs to be filled. New members must be trained. I want to be sure I am equipping them with the best possible training to raise the group to new heights. I want to use the scholarship to make going to college easier and allow me to then give back to the church teens what I have learned.

Vince Lombardi once said: “It is not whether you get knocked down. It is whether you get back up.” I heard quotes like this, and heard all the speeches but until this last year I did not really understand what it meant to persevere. I did not really know what it looked like to hurt, to cry, and not give up the fight. It was summer time, football was just starting out, everyone was ecstatic. We felt invincible. Until we got the devastating message. A teammate was gone. Taken too soon by a car crash. Suddenly I did not feel so invincible. The ephemeral nature of life stunned me. The grief seemed to seep into everyone close and not so close friends alike. No one was themselves at practice that day, there was no longer any joy or hope for the season. The loss of life eclipsed the significance of any Friday night game. Our teammates passing was especially jarring to a few of our captains, who possessed an extremely close bond with him. However the next day they shifted the paradigm. This soul draining event became what the season was dedicated to. Every rep, every play was for our fallen friend. I felt it would be almost a sin to waste even the smallest opportunity to grow because of how lucky we were. The reminder of my own mortality, combined with the captain's new mindset switched my perspective. Being tired or sick of working out were no longer valid excuses. I looked at my captains and saw the way they came ready to work because their brother no longer could. They did not let him be an excuse for them to slack, but a reason to push harder. That year I got to really see what it meant to get knocked down and get back up. An event does not define you or your outcome. Rather it is the event along with your response that determine what happens next. Life is going to knock you down and only you can decide to get back up. My captains taught me to turn bumps and roadblocks into springboards. There were plenty of excuses to not have a good year: game cancellations, covid-19 and the loss of a teammate. Despite this we managed to produce our best season yet. Snapping not only our rivals' 12 year district win streak, but also winning the District Championship-for the first time in school history-as well. I learned it is your response to your situation that will change your outcome. Not just on the field but in the classroom as well; one bad test score will only determine the outcome of your class if you respond by giving up. Instead, by responding positively you may produce a positive outcome. By studying effectively and investing rather than just wasting time. Meaning while you may get knocked down you can either choose to respond positively, and get back up, or stay down and quit, effectively guaranteeing failure. I was inspired by my captain’s willingness to continue to grow despite the pain of losing a close friend. Their example was a big part of the reason I pursued a leadership role on the team this year. I joined the Leadership council and am working to pass on what my captains taught me in the adversity of that year: That every knockdown presents a challenge but more importantly an opportunity to get standup stronger than ever. A wise man once summed it up in this maxim: Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves back up.

Vince Lombardi once said: “It is not whether you get knocked down. It is whether you get back up.” I heard quotes like this, and heard all the speeches but until this last year I did not really understand what it meant to persevere. I did not really know what it looked like to hurt, to cry, and not give up the fight. It was summer time, football was just starting out, everyone was ecstatic. We felt invincible. Until we got the devastating message. A teammate was gone. Taken too soon by a car crash. Suddenly I did not feel so invincible. The ephemeral nature of life stunned me. The grief seemed to seep into everyone close and not so close friends alike. No one was themselves at practice that day, there was no longer any joy or hope for the season. The loss of life eclipsed the significance of any Friday night game. Our teammates passing was especially jarring to a few of our captains, who possessed an extremely close bond with him. However the next day they shifted the paradigm. This soul draining event became what the season was dedicated to. Every rep, every play was for our fallen friend. I felt it would be almost a sin to waste even the smallest opportunity to grow because of how lucky we were. The reminder of my own mortality, combined with the captain's new mindset switched my perspective. Being tired or sick of working out were no longer valid excuses. I looked at my captains and saw the way they came ready to work because their brother no longer could. They did not let him be an excuse for them to slack, but a reason to push harder. That year I got to really see what it meant to get knocked down and get back up. An event does not define you or your outcome. Rather it is the event along with your response that determine what happens next. Life is going to knock you down and only you can decide to get back up. My captains taught me to turn bumps and roadblocks into springboards. There were plenty of excuses to not have a good year: game cancellations, covid-19 and the loss of a teammate. Despite this we managed to produce our best season yet. Snapping not only our rivals' 12 year district win streak, but also winning the District Championship-for the first time in school history-as well. I learned it is your response to your situation that will change your outcome. Not just on the field but in the classroom as well; one bad test score will only determine the outcome of your class if you respond by giving up. Instead, by responding positively you may produce a positive outcome. By studying effectively and investing rather than just wasting time. Meaning while you may get knocked down you can either choose to respond positively, and get back up, or stay down and quit, effectively guaranteeing failure. I was inspired by my captain’s willingness to continue to grow despite the pain of losing a close friend. Their example was a big part of the reason I pursued a leadership role on the team this year. I joined the Leadership council and am working to pass on what my captains taught me in the adversity of that year: That every knockdown presents a challenge but more importantly an opportunity to get standup stronger than ever. A wise man once summed it up in this maxim: Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves back up.

I am passionate about STEM because I have always been fascinated by technology and wanted to understand how we as humanity have achieved so much. I also was inspired by an amazing teacher Mr. Bobo. Mr. Bobo introduced me to computer maintenance and helped me get certified with CompTIA. CompTia A+ carries globally-recognized ISO/ANSI accreditations and is the industry standard in Information technology so It was quite the opportunity for me to be able to get certified through my school technical program. With my understanding of informational technology which is the practical application of technology I can apply what I learn on the job to my major in computer engineering. By understanding how people apply technology I can help make that technology better suited to the people who need it. Mr. Bobo played a big role in me finally settling on a STEM major. Mr. Bobo believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. When I was preparing for my certification I took a mock test to see if I could qualify for KATY ISD to pay for the certification exam. I did my best but I was still just barely below where I needed to be. I wanted to throw in the towel but Mr. Bobo took a chance with me seeing I was barely below the guideline. He approved and encouraged me. So I studied harder than ever before to get certified. I couldn't let him down. After the test I was overjoyed to receive my certification, and I could tell he was proud. So I continue to strive to succeed no matter what obstacles I may face because I refuse to let him down. To put it simply, there are not many black men in the STEM space. When I got to my Computer maintenance career and technology class one of the first things I noticed was there were only 2 other black men in the class. However I was lucky enough to have my teacher-Mr. Bobo be one of them. He brought it to my attention that it was not just our class that lacked diversity but the wider field as well. He encouraged me to work hard and represent for black men everywhere as there were so few of us. He is a big reason why I want to go into the tech field, to defeat the negative stereotypes of black men being lazy or stupid but show we are competent hard workers. I would use this opportunity to lighten the burden of paying for college, freeing me to empower others by helping spread tech literacy and teach teens in my church skills to equip them for a technological future. Many have shown an interest in technology but don't know what to do with it. I want to help these teens chase their passions and help guide them to be successful adults and build a new future for themselves. Through this scholarship I can gain the resources necessary to help them. I am a part of the church media/technical crew in my absence there is hole in the group that needs to be filled. New members must be trained. I want to be sure I am equipping them with the best possible training to raise the group to new heights. I want to use the scholarship to make going to college easier and allow me to then give back to the teens what I have learned.

I am passionate about STEM because I have always been fascinated by technology and wanted to understand how we as humanity have achieved so much i also was inspired by an amazing teacher Mr. Bobo. Mr. Bobo introduced me to computer maintenance and helped me get certified with CompTIA. CompTia A+ carries globally-recognized ISO/ANSI accreditations and is the industry standard in Information technology so It was quite the opportunity for me to be able to get certified through my school technical program. With my understanding of informational technology which is the practical application of technology I can apply what I learn on the job to my major in computer engineering. By understanding how people apply technology I can help make that technology better suited to the people who need it. Mr. Bobo played a big role in me finally settling on a STEM major. Mr. Bobo believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. When I was preparing for my certification I took a mock test to see if I could qualify for KATY ISD to pay for the certification exam. I did my best but I was still just barely below where I needed to be. I wanted to throw in the towel but Mr. Bobo took a chance with me seeing I was barely below the guideline. He approved and encouraged me. So I studied harder than ever before to get certified. I couldn't let him down. After the test I was overjoyed to receive my certification, and I could tell he was proud. So I continue to strive to succeed no matter what obstacles I may face because I refuse to let him down. Finally, to put it simply, there are not many black men in the STEM space. When I got to my Computer maintenance career and technology class one of the first things I noticed was there were only 2 other black men in the class. However I was lucky enough to have my teacher-Mr. Bobo be one of them. He became a mentor to me. He brought it to my attention that it was not just our class that lacked diversity but the wider field as well. He encouraged me to work hard and represent for black men everywhere as there were so few of us. He is a big reason why I want to go into the tech field, to defeat the negative stereotypes of black men being lazy or stupid but show we are competent hard workers.

I want to go to college because I have always been fascinated by technology and wanted to understand how we as humanity have achieved so much I was also inspired by an amazing teacher Mr. Bobo. Mr. Bobo introduced me to computer maintenance and helped me get certified with CompTIA. CompTia A+ carries globally-recognized ISO/ANSI accreditations and is the industry standard in Information technology so It was quite the opportunity for me to be able to get certified through my school technical program. With my understanding of informational technology which is the practical application of technology I can apply what I learn on the job to my major in computer engineering. By understanding how people apply technology I can help make that technology better suited to the people who need it. Mr. Bobo played a big role in me finally settling on this major. Mr. Bobo believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. When I was preparing for my certification I took a mock test to see if I could qualify for KATY ISD to pay for the certification exam. I did my best but I was still just barely below where I needed to be. I wanted to throw in the towel but Mr. Bobo took a chance with me seeing I was barely below the guideline. He approved and encouraged me. So I studied harder than ever before to get certified. I couldn't let him down. After the test I was overjoyed to receive my certification, and I could tell he was proud. So I continue to strive to succeed no matter what obstacles I may face because I refuse to let him down. I would use this opportunity to lighten the burden of paying for college, freeing me to empower others by helping spread tech literacy and teach teens in my church skills to equip them for a technological future. Many have shown an interest in technology but don't know what to do with it. I want to help these teens chase their passions and help guide them to be successful adults and build a new future for themselves. Through this scholarship I can gain the resources necessary to help them. As I have previously mentioned in this application I was a part t=of the church media/technical crew in my absence there is hole left in the group that needs to be filled. New members must be trained. I want to be sure I am equipping them with the best possible training to raise the group to new heights. I want to use the scholarship to make going to college easier and allow me to then give back to the church teens what I have learned.

Vince Lombardi once said: “It is not whether you get knocked down. It is whether you get back up.” I heard quotes like this, and heard all the speeches but until this last year I did not really understand what it meant to persevere. I did not really know what it looked like to hurt, to cry, and not give up the fight. It was summer time, football was just starting out, everyone was ecstatic. We felt invincible. Until we got the devastating message. A teammate was gone. Taken too soon by a car crash. Suddenly I did not feel so invincible. The ephemeral nature of life stunned me. The grief seemed to seep into everyone close and not so close friends alike. No one was themselves at practice that day, there was no longer any joy or hope for the season. The loss of life eclipsed the significance of any Friday night game. Our teammates passing was especially jarring to a few of our captains, who possessed an extremely close bond with him. However the next day they shifted the paradigm. This soul draining event became what the season was dedicated to. Every rep, every play was for our fallen friend. I felt it would be almost a sin to waste even the smallest opportunity to grow because of how lucky we were. The reminder of my own mortality, combined with the captain's new mindset switched my perspective. Being tired or sick of working out were no longer valid excuses. I looked at my captains and saw the way they came ready to work because their brother no longer could. They did not let him be an excuse for them to slack, but a reason to push harder. That year I got to really see what it meant to get knocked down and get back up. An event does not define you or your outcome. Rather it is the event along with your response that determine what happens next. Life is going to knock you down and only you can decide to get back up. My captains taught me to turn bumps and roadblocks into springboards. There were plenty of excuses to not have a good year: game cancellations, covid-19 and the loss of a teammate. Despite this we managed to produce our best season yet. Snapping not only our rivals' 12 year district win streak, but also winning the District Championship-for the first time in school history-as well. I learned it is your response to your situation that will change your outcome. Not just on the field but in the classroom as well; one bad test score will only determine the outcome of your class if you respond by giving up. Instead, by responding positively you may produce a positive outcome. By studying effectively and investing rather than just wasting time. Meaning while you may get knocked down you can either choose to respond positively, and get back up, or stay down and quit, effectively guaranteeing failure. I was inspired by my captain’s willingness to continue to grow despite the pain of losing a close friend. Their example was a big part of the reason I pursued a leadership role on the team this year. I joined the Leadership council and am working to pass on what my captains taught me in the adversity of that year: That every knockdown presents a challenge but more importantly an opportunity to get standup stronger than ever. A wise man once summed it up in this maxim: Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves back up.

VR: A New Horizon Virtual reality is a virtual experience that can mimic or be completely different from the real world. Virtual reality equipment can allow a person to look, and move around an artificial world, as well as interact with virtual features or items. Not just looking at a 2d screen but an interactive world that I could almost reach out and touch. VRs ability to put people in seeminly real world situations and capacity to effect them makes it a promising tool in targeting mental health. Rudimentary research has shown interacting in VR environments can have a positive effect on the mind, pointing to the possibility of using VR to keep anxiety and pain under control. With virtual reality the future of medicine looks very promising. VR can also help those suffering anxiety. Research done by the University of Bologna shows VR therapies have a promising future especially in palliative cancer care: “VR could represent a suitable complementary tool for psychological treatment in advanced cancer patients'' (Virtual Reality in Home Palliative Care: Brief Report on the Effect on Cancer-Related Symptomatology, 2021). These studies focused on helping cancer patients in palliative care deal with both physical pain and mental pains like anxiety. With more research and investment in VR medicine, research scientists and doctors believe they can make a tangible difference in reducing anxiety. VR environments can be developed to help people deal with their mental health and anxiety. More innovation in VR can only help improve the lives of millions of people suffering from physical pain and anxiety. Virtual reality has a promising future and shows how mankind is constantly evolving and improving to make our lives better. The next step in our progression as a species is to properly incorporate VR in medicine to take a new leap forward in what humanity can do. As the university of Sydney concluded (Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Interventions for Adolescent Patients In Hospital Settings: Systematic Review, 2021) “As VR becomes more accessible and affordable for use in hospitals, larger and more diverse studies that capitalize on adolescents' interest in and aptitude for virtual reality, and on the full range of capabilities of this emerging technology, are needed to build on these promising results.” The important thing is to continue to innovate and expand our knowledge in the field to pave the way for a brighter future.