In the future I plan on studying kinesiology at James Madison University in order to become a physical therapist and then later on in my college career transfer to a college that offers a Masters in Physical Therapy program. A goal of mine is to help aid people in their recovery journey in order to get back to their daily acts of living. Throughout high school I've been involved in many clubs in and out of school. I am a part of the National Honor Society, national English Honor Society, national art Honor Society, and green team. As well as playing field hockey for three years and indoor and outdoor track for almost two years. I am involved at New Horizons as well, representing my PT/OT class for the student council and being the secretary for the HOSA (health occupation students of America) program. Outside of school I played club field hockey for three years and I am a part of the York County youth Commission. The YCYC is a competitie election program to learn about local government and attend monthly meetings as well as board of supervisor meetings. Volunteering is a part of my life as I help volunteer with the clubs at my school as well as associations in the 757 area that benefits the citizens. Volunteering is a part of my life as I help volunteer with the clubs at my school as well as associations in the Hampton Roads area that benefit the underprivileged. I have spent memorable hours volunteering with the York High School Environmental Green Team, the York County Youth Commission and the Youth Volunteer Corps of Hampton Roads. The annual Yorktown Beach Cleanup / Clean the Bay Day is a volunteer event that I have participated in with the York High School Environmental Green Team. Club members meet at the beach in the early morning to pickup trash in the Yorktown Beach picnic and waterfront areas. Through our efforts, an estimated 400 pounds of waste was collected and properly disposed of in 2022. This experience made me aware of how quickly refuse accumulates and has encouraged me to be more mindful of my own refuse disposal. The York County Youth Commission (YCYC) is an exclusive, applicant program, administered by the York County Board of Supervisors to engage select high school students in local government and volunteerism. Members serve as a communications link between the youth of York County and the Board of Supervisors by researching and presenting student issues, problems, needs, ideas and suggestions. In addition to Youth Commission meetings, members attend periodic York County Board of Supervisors meetings to make youth program recommendations. Recent involvement includes performance as a goodwill ambassador at the annual York County Christmas tree lighting and the Fall Market Day events. In addition, the YCYC contributes time to road cleanup with the Virginia Department of Transportation “Adopt a Highway” program, specifically Seaford Road. I participate in volunteerism through the Youth Volunteer Corps of Hampton Roads (YVCHR) which is a non-profit organization that connects Youth Volunteers (ages 11 to 18) to service-learning opportunities through meaningful volunteer projects. My most memorable event with the YVCHR was the “No Kid Sleeps on the Floor” project. This project aims at providing top quality bunk beds to children and families in need. During this daylong event, I participated in a number of assembly line work stations to build bed frames. I find significant satisfaction through my volunteer work and look forward to more opportunities to remain involved throughout my college years and adulthood.

I have been involved with sports since childhood and throughout my time at York High School. I was a competitive gymnast for five years during elementary school before I fell in love with field hockey in middle school. I have played field hockey for my school, as well as field hockey and indoor field hockey at the club level, for 7 years now. Field hockey is a year-round sport that enables me to stay physically fit and mentally strong. I love the exhilaration of playing the game, the camaraderie of the team and the sense of well-being that comes from a good workout. During my junior year of high school, I obtained a position on the track team and run both indoor and outdoor events. Running track during the high school field hockey "off-season" has greatly strengthened my endurance which increases my value on the field hockey field. I have suffered several foot injuries and multiple concussions during my time in sports which have required me to take lengthy breaks from activity. Although I have been quite fortunate to be able to recover without physical therapy assistance, I learned first-hand how quickly your muscles and stamina can deteriorate when not exercised. After all of my injuries, I was self-motivated to recover as quickly as possible, once I received the doctor's clearance. My head injuries specifically, involved considerable recovery time and the lack of physical activity resulted in both physical and mental decline. From this experience, I realized exactly how much my sports participation contributes to my mental well-being. An important part of my overall well-being is exercise and sports training. I intend to participate in club-level field hockey and track while I attend college. It is imperative for my mental health that I exercise to relieve stress and to maintain the best physical status that I can reach. I am also a healthy eater who refrains from any type of drinking or tobacco products. I have found that my entire well-being is improved when I allow myself the luxury of exercise. It relieves stress, improves my focus and ensures that I obtain quality sleep at night. My passion is aiding individuals that have been negatively impacted physically, to recover their abilities to live their best life. I intend to pursue an undergraduate degree in kinesiology at either Virginia Tech or James Madison University to follow my dream of becoming a sports therapist. I am inspired to pursue this career from watching my grandmother recover from major surgery with the aid of her physical therapist and occupational therapist. My previously self-sufficient grandmother was physically devastated by emergency surgery and an extended hospital stay. She lived with my family during her recovery process so I was able to witness first-hand the slow and ongoing process of relearning life skills and regaining muscle strength. I have also been inspired by witnessing fellow athletes recover from sports injuries. I am currently enrolled in the Physical Therapy / Occupational Therapy program at New Horizons Regional Education Center, as a part of my school schedule, to get a head start in preparing for my future in the medical field.

I have been involved with sports since childhood and throughout my time at York High School. I was a competitive gymnast for five years during elementary school before I fell in love with field hockey in middle school. I have played field hockey for my school, as well as field hockey and indoor field hockey at the club level, for 7 years now. Field hockey is a year-round sport that enables me to stay physically fit and mentally strong. I love the exhilaration of playing the game, the camaraderie of the team and the sense of well-being that comes from a good workout. During my junior year of high school, I obtained a position on the track team and run both indoor and outdoor events. Running track during the high school field hockey "off-season" has greatly strengthened my endurance which increases my value on the field hockey field. I have suffered several foot injuries and multiple concussions during my time in sports which have required me to take lengthy breaks from activity. Although I have been quite fortunate to be able to recover without physical therapy assistance, I learned first-hand how quickly your muscles and stamina can deteriorate when not exercised. After all of my injuries, I was self-motivated to recover as quickly as possible, once I received the doctor's clearance. My head injuries specifically, involved considerable recovery time and the lack of physical activity resulted in both physical and mental decline. From this experience, I realized exactly how much my sports participation contributes to my mental well-being. My passion is aiding individuals that have been negatively impacted physically, to recover their abilities to live their best life. I intend to pursue an undergraduate degree in kinesiology at either Virginia Tech or James Madison University to follow my dream of becoming a sports therapist. I am inspired to pursue this career from watching my grandmother recover from major surgery with the aid of her physical therapist and occupational therapist. My previously self-sufficient grandmother was physically devastated by emergency surgery and an extended hospital stay. She lived with my family during her recovery process so I was able to witness first-hand the slow and ongoing process of relearning life skills and regaining muscle strength. I have also been inspired by witnessing fellow athletes recover from sports injuries. I am currently enrolled in the Physical Therapy / Occupational Therapy program at New Horizons Regional Education Center, as a part of my school schedule, to get a head start in preparing for my future in the medical field.

My passion is aiding individuals that have been negatively impacted physically, to recover their abilities to live their best life. I intend to pursue an undergraduate degree in kinesiology at either Virginia Tech or James Madison University to follow my dream of becoming a sports therapist. I am inspired to pursue this career from watching my grandmother recover from major surgery with the aid of her physical therapist and occupational therapist. My previously self-sufficient grandmother was physically devastated by emergency surgery and an extended hospital stay. She lived with my family during her recovery process so I was able to witness first-hand the slow and ongoing process of relearning life skills and regaining muscle strength. I have also been inspired by witnessing fellow athletes recover from sports injuries. I am currently enrolled in the Physical Therapy / Occupational Therapy program at New Horizons Regional Education Center, as a part of my school schedule, to get a head start in preparing for my future in the medical field. I have been involved with sports since childhood and throughout my time at York High School. I was a competitive gymnast for five years during elementary school before I fell in love with field hockey in middle school. I have played field hockey for my school, as well as field hockey and indoor field hockey at the club level, for 7 years now. Field hockey is a year-round sport that enables me to stay physically fit and mentally strong. I love the exhilaration of playing the game, the camaraderie of the team and the sense of well-being that comes from a good workout. During my junior year of high school, I obtained a position on the track team and run both indoor and outdoor events. Running track during the high school field hockey "off-season" has greatly strengthened my endurance which increases my value on the field hockey field. I have suffered several foot injuries and multiple concussions during my time in sports which have required me to take lengthy breaks from activity. Although I have been quite fortunate to be able to recover without physical therapy assistance, I learned first-hand how quickly your muscles and stamina can deteriorate when not exercised. After all of my injuries, I was self-motivated to recover as quickly as possible, once I received the doctor's clearance. My head injuries specifically, involved considerable recovery time and the lack of physical activity resulted in both physical and mental decline. From this experience, I realized exactly how much my sports participation contributes to my mental well-being.