I come from a family that never prioritized health. We ate out almost every night and had the tradition of going to Wendy's every Sunday. I didn't know any better. I was severely overweight, and I was ridiculed because of it. I reached a point in 8th grade where I saw the detrimental effects of these unhealthy habits. I was falling behind in sports, I always felt slow and sluggish, and I saw similar effects in my family members. So I turned to fitness and running, and it had a monumental effect on my life. Between 8th grade and my sophomore year of high school, I worked out 5 days a week and ran every single day before school. I missed a total of 32 days in those 3 years and ran as consistently as my body would allow me. I lost 60 pounds and completely changed my body for the better. I was fueled by the overwhelming drive to be better than I was the day before. I was tired of being overweight and ridiculed for it, so I chose to do something about it and use fitness to my advantage. I became addicted to fitness and healthy habits rather than fast food. I signed up for every 5k I could and tried to miss as few days as possible. I gained significant strength and ended up using it to my advantage in sports. I went from being a bench player in middle school to becoming a 2-year varsity team captain on my high school baseball team. I earned a spot on a collegiate roster at the University of Puget Sound and now plan to study Nutrition in college and play baseball. My improved habits regarding fitness also changed my studies. In middle school, I was average at best academically, but my newfound ambition for fitness led me to discover the value of hard work. I realized that the discipline of eating differently and running every day was the same discipline I needed to turn in my homework and study for every single test. I ended up getting a 4.6 GPA in my time in high school and truly getting the most out of my academics, all stemming from my fitness habits. Not only did my new addiction to becoming fit lead me to bettering myself, but it also gave me a purpose to help others. I started a run club at my high school. We'd go out every other Saturday morning and go on a big group run around our local neighborhoods. I advertised hard and tried to get as many people as possible on board. At its largest, I had a group of 23 of us working hard and bettering ourselves. My family, who noticed my progress, also changed. They too started eating healthier, and have since abandoned our tradition of eating junk food often. Every member of my family has lost at least 15 pounds and is beginning to prioritize their health much more than they did in the past. My journey in the fitness world has guided me in the direction of my life and also given me a purpose. I want to study nutrition and help those around me become healthier in their habits. Fitness has taught me the value of hard work and perseverance, and I know if I apply the habits that fitness has given me, I will be successful in the outside world. I am excited for the future and know that fitness will help guide my future endeavors and help as many people as I physically can.

Baseball has been deeply attached to me throughout my life. I came from parents who knew nothing about the sport, coming from another country, but the game made me into the person I am today. I always loved the consistent grind of the sport and the mental toughness it taught me. I idolized Buster Posey as a child and wanted to be just like him. I loved his humble approach to the game and demeanor both on and off the field, and it truly had a large impact on me. Baseball brought me to where I am today. I am now a two-year varsity team captain at my high school and have recently committed to the University of Puget Sound. I knew from a young age I wanted to play at a higher level, and I am blessed to be able to pursue baseball collegiately. Not only has baseball influenced the direction of my life as it led me to a new state and college, but it has also influenced my values. My time as a team captain has shown me the impact that a good leader can have on the common goal of a team. In my first two years of high school, my team was consistently the worst in our league. This was largely due to poor leadership and team chemistry. Teammates and coaches were constantly shuffling and transferring in and out of the team, and we never seemed to have group success. During my two years as a captain, I have done everything in my power to change our culture. I implemented a lifting program that was new to our team, and got every kid on board with it. We now went from lifting a couple times a month after practice, to every single day before school during 0 period. Actions like this, which I believe followed Buster Posey's head-down, hardworking approach to leadership, have truly had a large impact on my team. I have always tried to treat my teammates and coaches with more respect than what was given to me as an underclassman, and it has truly paid off. Last year, we finished well over .500 on the season and made a deep run in the playoffs. This year, (as I am writing this), we are in the midst of a playoff run, where we have a legitimate chance to win a section title. But, most importantly, our team chemistry is at an all-time high. We have started to have team dinners together before every game, and not a single player or coach has transferred in or out of my school. The entire vibe and chemistry as a team is at the highest level I have ever been a part of. My time as a team captain taught me that when positive leadership pushes a group towards a common goal, any situation can be salvaged or turned around. I have learned that I can change a team setting for the better. I have made brothers and friends for life from this game, and I hope that the new tradition and culture will be passed down to future generations in our high school. We have bonded over our desire for success and winning. I hope my new systems and leadership philosophy can impact the community as a whole and bring success and positivity to those who also love the game of baseball. Baseball has taught me how to be a leader and get the most out of a group with a common desired goal. Baseball has and will continue to guide me through my life.