There are those moments in life that turn everything upside down, moments that put your life into before and after. When my father was diagnosed with ALS in 2020, in my 6th-grade year, everything changed. He was always the gruff, athletic, rambunctious man who coached me in sports, screamed the loudest during my games, and called me his "supergirl." But over the next three years, I watched him lose his ability to walk, talk, and lastly, breathe. He passed away when I was a freshman in 2023. Throughout all of that, the only steady constant in my life was my mom. She stood by me emotionally, spiritually, and monetarily. She became my dad's full-time caregiver, taking care of his machines, meds, and emotional well-being, as well as standing me up during the bereavement and fear. Even though our family was under financial and emotional pressure, she didn't want my education to be affected. She took on extra work and placed us in the PATHS program so that I could remain at my Catholic school, even when tuition was out of the question. She never doubted my future. It's because of the sacrifices that she made that I am as diligent. I pay tribute to her by staying committed in school and staying involved in the community. I am a two-club secretary, a Minister for Holy Communion, a student government member, and an active softball player. I have chosen to serve and lead because I understand how precious it is to give back, the same way that she gave everything for me. Witnessing my dad's illness also impacted my dream: I want to study kinesiology and become an athletic trainer or physical therapist. Witnessing first-hand how much of an impact the compassionate, healthy caregivers had on my dad's life, I knew that I wanted to be that type of caregiver to others. I want to heal people, the way we were healed. Losing a parent as a teenager is a wound that never really heals. There are simply too many days I find myself still grabbing my phone to forward my dad a picture of my report card or a video of a softball game. There are evenings that I silently cry, wanting only a few more minutes with him. But I let that heartache motivate me. I know that my father would be proud to see who I am turning into, and I know my mother's sacrifices must be rewarded with success. I think of her waking up all night. To take care of my dad or of her sitting by his bedside every night. I remember how she stood by me during the bleakest times with elegance and resolve. That is what I maintain as my legacy. As I look ahead to college and the future, I understand that the ride will not always be an easy one. But already, I have been through fire and out the other side. My history has given me depth, direction, and an agenda. I will use what I have learned and turn it into a life of purpose. Whether I'm on the field helping an injured athlete or in the clinic rehabbing with someone who's had surgery, I'll be doing it with love, dedication, and the same selflessness that I observed in my mom. This scholarship would not only lift the financial weight that remains—it would be a reminder that our resilience matters. I’m not just working for myself. I’m working to make my mom proud and to honor the love of a father who still pushes me forward every day.