My name is Shane Myers, and I’m currently a student at Greenville High School in Pennsylvania. Growing up in a single parent household, and often bouncing between two very different homes, has shaped every part of who I am—my goals, my values, and my ambition to succeed in life. My childhood was far from easy. I was in and out of courtrooms for custody hearings and attended seven different schools throughout my academic journey. Every time I started to settle in or find my place, life would shift again. I never stayed in one house long enough to feel like it was home. We moved constantly, living in Section 8 housing, low-income apartments, and some rough neighborhoods. It was a hard environment to grow up in, and I often felt like I didn’t belong anywhere. But over time, that sense of being lost became part of what drove me to create something better for myself. One of my parents struggled with drug addiction off and on for years. The other worked hard but expressed love through strict discipline, which at times felt more like pressure than support. They were both young and didn’t really know how to raise a child. I was caught between two completely different parenting styles—on one side, freedom with no boundaries, and on the other, structure with no room for mistakes. It was confusing and difficult, but it taught me to find balance on my own. With my mom, I had freedom, but not much guidance. She treated me more like a friend than a parent. I could stay out late, hang around the wrong crowds, and do whatever I pleased. By the age of nine, I weighed 210 pounds and didn’t see a problem with it because no one told me otherwise. But I also learned street smarts, how to adapt, and how to think for myself. I was exposed to things that forced me to grow up quickly. I saw how easy it could be to get caught in a cycle of doing whatever feels good in the moment, without thinking about the future. My dad, on the other hand, was a blue collar man who worked with his hands and believed in doing things the right way, no matter how hard. With him, there were rules, curfews, and high expectations. If I didn’t meet them—if I wasn’t perfect—there were punishments. Sometimes they felt too severe, but I understand now that he wanted the best for me, even if he didn’t always know how to show it. From him, I learned discipline, responsibility, and what it means to earn respect. The biggest turning point in my life was discovering football and working out. Those things gave me an outlet, a way to turn frustration and emotion into progress. I began to take control of my health and confidence. I lost weight, gained strength, and realized I had potential. Football wasn’t just a sport to me—it was a lifeline. It taught me teamwork, grit, and how to show up even when things are tough. Growing up the way I did taught me how to keep going when life gets hard. I value hard work, loyalty, independence, and mental toughness. I wasn’t set up for college—no one in my family ever pushed me toward that path—but I’m choosing it anyway. My goal is to build a life that looks nothing like the one I came from. I want to break the cycle, to be a man of purpose and integrity, and to create a future where I can give my own kids the stability I never had.