While football has always been a constant in my life - going to practice and getting to play with my long-time friends - it has not always been a smooth journey. I took a giant leap out of my comfort zone my junior year to step into a position of leadership. I worked alongside new teammates and coaches that had different expertise and differing experiences than mine. Coach Copeland, my head coach for my entire football career, became a staple in my life and a beacon to look toward for leadership guidance. In late November of my sophomore year, my assistant coach I had worked with since eighth grade would be leaving the school. This former coach taught me a majority of what I know as a football player and his teachings allowed me to gain confidence in my leadership. I knew that after he left I was going to be looked at for advice and leadership among younger teammates. By the beginning of my junior year, all of my coaches had left except for coach Copeland. Once again I was met with a barrier that I had to overcome to apply myself and learn from my new mentors. After my junior season, I was successful in building my platform of leadership that I would stand upon my senior year. During my senior year, coach Copeland is still an example, proving that loyalty and commitment to a program pays off. I knew going into the year that I would play a huge role in helping coach as well as leading a strong example for young athletes at my school - to buy into the program the same as I did four years ago. What I didn't know was that with a limited number of boys on the team it looked as if we would have to cancel our season. Through my persistence and grit I was able to convince (as well as coach) students my age that had never played football before, so that my school could have a football team my senior year . My dedication and loyalty proves that I can stick with the program until the end, work with different leaders, and be the leader I need to be when called upon. My peer leadership on the football team was displayed this year when I was unanimously voted by my teammates to receive the Infinity Award. It is an award that is given to the senior that best exemplifies integrity, work ethic, mentorship, teamwork, and leadership. I was the best representation of infinity by means of going without limit to better my community and people around me. I will use my experience of overcoming barriers and differences to work alongside others that come from different walks of life, to better the community at Appalachian State University and create a more inclusive learning environment for hardworking Mountaineers that believe in constant pursuance of esprit de corps.

In the southeastern United States lies a special place unlike anywhere else on earth. While most people consider the Southern Appalachian mountains to be nothing more than scenic hills tucked away in the far corners of the states they touch, these mountains are unique, set apart by a landscape of tall jagged peaks with long and winding valleys. Located in the North Carolina portion of the mountains is a trail that I've spent the last 3 summers traversing. This trail is called the Trans-WNC (Western North Carolina) and is 300 miles long and has 35,000ft of elevation change. The route is a “bikepacking” route that snakes through the mountains, starting in Virginia then winding through western North Carolina and ending in Georgia. Bikepacking combines long-distance off-road biking with camping; bikepackers carry all the camping gear needed for their journey in backpacks and bike bags. Until the summer before my sophomore year I had never bikepacked before. I had been an avid mountain biker for some time before the trip, and I hoped that this would allow me to bike on the road for many miles, while including my love of camping. For my first trip, the trail was mapped in a straight line instead of following the turns and bends of the mountain roads like I was expecting. I only completed one-quarter of the trail on this trip, but the route was so beautiful and enjoyable that my father and I both wanted to return to bike further on the trail. While I was only able to complete 80 miles on that first trip, I was not disappointed. I made great memories and enjoyed camping with my dad for three straight days, with a shared end goal of going as far as we could at our own pace. Much like the ups and downs of this bike trip, my academic career has been a journey of struggles and joys through formative education. Going into my trip, I knew a majority of the trail was going to be a difficult uphill climb, unlike any other challenge I had ever faced while biking. Similarly, due to my dyslexia, I struggled for many years through elementary and middle school with learning to be fluent in reading and writing. The college preparatory high school I attend puts a heavy emphasis on academics and advanced placement classes. Many times, I questioned if I was taking the right class for me and if I was making the right decision taking the more rigorous courses through high school. Just like while I was out on the trail biking, I utilized my skills of embracing the struggle and finding the joy hidden in the hardship and applied this to my classwork. After four years of struggling, I am proud to have chosen the difficult route less traveled. Even with the challenges of dyslexia, my endeavor of learning, and understanding my education, I found peace through the struggle and have applied that to my life. On my bike trips I crossed paths with many people that believed what I was doing was stupid or questioned how anyone could enjoy riding a bike up the tallest mountain on the east coast, but it has made a great impact on me and has ultimately led me to enjoy rigorous class work and prepared me for higher education.

In the southeastern United States lies a special place unlike anywhere else on earth. While most people consider the Southern Appalachian mountains to be nothing more than scenic hills tucked away in the far corners of the states they touch, these mountains are unique, set apart by a landscape of tall jagged peaks with long and winding valleys. Located in the North Carolina portion of the mountains is a trail that I've spent the last 3 summers traversing. This trail is called the Trans-WNC (Western North Carolina) and is 300 miles long and has 35,000ft of elevation change. The route is a “bikepacking” route that snakes through the mountains, starting in Virginia then winding through western North Carolina and ending in Georgia. Bikepacking combines long-distance off-road biking with camping; bikepackers carry all the camping gear needed for their journey in backpacks and bike bags. Until the summer before my sophomore year I had never bikepacked before. I had been an avid mountain biker for some time before the trip, and I hoped that this would allow me to bike on the road for many miles, while including my love of camping. For my first trip, the trail was mapped in a straight line instead of following the turns and bends of the mountain roads like I was expecting. I only completed one-quarter of the trail on this trip, but the route was so beautiful and enjoyable that my father and I both wanted to return to bike further on the trail. While I was only able to complete 80 miles on that first trip, I was not disappointed. I made great memories and enjoyed camping with my dad for three straight days, with a shared end goal of going as far as we could at our own pace. Much like the ups and downs of this bike trip, my academic career has been a journey of struggles and joys through formative education. Going into my trip, I knew a majority of the trail was going to be a difficult uphill climb, unlike any other challenge I had ever faced while biking. Similarly, due to my dyslexia, I struggled for many years through elementary and middle school with learning to be fluent in reading and writing. The college preparatory high school I attend puts a heavy emphasis on academics and advanced placement classes. Many times, I questioned if I was taking the right class for me and if I was making the right decision taking the more rigorous courses through high school. Just like while I was out on the trail biking, I utilized my skills of embracing the struggle and finding the joy hidden in the hardship and applied this to my classwork. After four years of struggling, I am proud to have chosen the difficult route less traveled. Even with the challenges of dyslexia, my endeavor of learning, and understanding my education, I found peace through the struggle and have applied that to my life. On my bike trips I crossed paths with many people that believed what I was doing was stupid or questioned how anyone could enjoy riding a bike up the tallest mountain on the east coast, but it has made a great impact on me and has ultimately led me to enjoy rigorous class work and prepared me for higher education.

In the southeastern United States lies a special place unlike anywhere else on earth. While most people consider the Southern Appalachian mountains to be nothing more than scenic hills tucked away in the far corners of the states they touch, these mountains are unique, set apart by a landscape of tall jagged peaks with long and winding valleys. Located in the North Carolina portion of the mountains is a trail that I've spent the last 3 summers traversing. This trail is called the Trans-WNC (Western North Carolina) and is 300 miles long and has 35,000ft of elevation change. The route is a “bikepacking” route that snakes through the mountains, starting in Virginia then winding through western North Carolina and ending in Georgia. Bikepacking combines long-distance off-road biking with camping; bikepackers carry all the camping gear needed for their journey in backpacks and bike bags. Until the summer before my sophomore year I had never bikepacked before. I had been an avid mountain biker for some time before the trip, and I hoped that this would allow me to bike on the road for many miles, while including my love of camping. For my first trip, the trail was mapped in a straight line instead of following the turns and bends of the mountain roads like I was expecting. I only completed one-quarter of the trail on this trip, but the route was so beautiful and enjoyable that my father and I both wanted to return to bike further on the trail. While I was only able to complete 80 miles on that first trip, I was not disappointed. I made great memories and enjoyed camping with my dad for three straight days, with a shared end goal of going as far as we could at our own pace. Much like the ups and downs of this bike trip, my academic career has been a journey of struggles and joys through formative education. Going into my trip, I knew a majority of the trail was going to be a difficult uphill climb, unlike any other challenge I had ever faced while biking. Similarly, due to my dyslexia, I struggled for many years through elementary and middle school with learning to be fluent in reading and writing. The college preparatory high school I attend puts a heavy emphasis on academics and advanced placement classes. Many times, I questioned if I was taking the right class for me and if I was making the right decision taking the more rigorous courses through high school. Just like while I was out on the trail biking, I utilized my skills of embracing the struggle and finding the joy hidden in the hardship and applied this to my classwork. After four years of struggling, I am proud to have chosen the difficult route less traveled. Even with the challenges of dyslexia, my endeavor of learning, and understanding my education, I found peace through the struggle and have applied that to my life. On my bike trips I crossed paths with many people that believed what I was doing was stupid or questioned how anyone could enjoy riding a bike up the tallest mountain on the east coast, but it has made a great impact on me and has ultimately led me to enjoy rigorous class work and prepared me for higher education.

In the southeastern United States lies a special place unlike anywhere else on earth. While most people consider the Southern Appalachian mountains to be nothing more than scenic hills tucked away in the far corners of the states they touch, these mountains are unique, set apart by a landscape of tall jagged peaks with long and winding valleys. Located in the North Carolina portion of the mountains is a trail that I've spent the last 3 summers traversing. This trail is called the Trans-WNC (Western North Carolina) and is 300 miles long and has 35,000ft of elevation change. The route is a “bikepacking” route that snakes through the mountains, starting in Virginia then winding through western North Carolina and ending in Georgia. Bikepacking combines long-distance off-road biking with camping; bikepackers carry all the camping gear needed for their journey in backpacks and bike bags. Until the summer before my sophomore year I had never bikepacked before. I had been an avid mountain biker for some time before the trip, and I hoped that this would allow me to bike on the road for many miles, while including my love of camping. For my first trip, the trail was mapped in a straight line instead of following the turns and bends of the mountain roads like I was expecting. I only completed one-quarter of the trail on this trip, but the route was so beautiful and enjoyable that my father and I both wanted to return to bike further on the trail. While I was only able to complete 80 miles on that first trip, I was not disappointed. I made great memories and enjoyed camping with my dad for three straight days, with a shared end goal of going as far as we could at our own pace. Much like the ups and downs of this bike trip, my academic career has been a journey of struggles and joys through formative education. Going into my trip, I knew a majority of the trail was going to be a difficult uphill climb, unlike any other challenge I had ever faced while biking. Similarly, due to my dyslexia, I struggled for many years through elementary and middle school with learning to be fluent in reading and writing. The college preparatory high school I attend puts a heavy emphasis on academics and advanced placement classes. Many times, I questioned if I was taking the right class for me and if I was making the right decision taking the more rigorous courses through high school. Just like while I was out on the trail biking, I utilized my skills of embracing the struggle and finding the joy hidden in the hardship and applied this to my classwork. After four years of struggling, I am proud to have chosen the difficult route less traveled. Even with the challenges of dyslexia, my endeavor of learning, and understanding my education, I found peace through the struggle and have applied that to my life. On my bike trips I crossed paths with many people that believed what I was doing was stupid or questioned how anyone could enjoy riding a bike up the tallest mountain on the east coast, but it has made a great impact on me and has ultimately led me to enjoy rigorous class work and prepared me for higher education.

While football has always been a constant in my life - going to practice and getting to play with my long-time friends - it has not always been a smooth journey. I took a giant leap out of my comfort zone my junior year to step into a position of leadership. I worked alongside new teammates and coaches that had different expertise and differing experiences than mine. Coach Copeland, my head coach for my entire football career, became a staple in my life and a beacon to look toward for leadership guidance. In late November of my sophomore year, my assistant coach I had worked with since eighth grade would be leaving the school. This former coach taught me a majority of what I know as a football player and his teachings allowed me to gain confidence in my leadership. I knew that after he left I was going to be looked at for advice and leadership among younger teammates. By the beginning of my junior year, all of my coaches had left except for coach Copeland. Once again I was met with a barrier that I had to overcome to apply myself and learn from my new mentors. After my junior season, I was successful in building my platform of leadership that I would stand upon my senior year. During my senior year, coach Copeland is still an example, proving that loyalty and commitment to a program pays off. I knew going into the year that I would play a huge role in helping coach as well as leading a strong example for young athletes at my school - to buy into the program the same as I did four years ago. What I didn't know was that with a limited number of boys on the team it looked as if we would have to cancel our season. Through my persistence and grit I was able to convince (as well as coach) students my age that had never played football before, so that my school could have a football team my senior year . My dedication and loyalty proves that I can stick with the program until the end, work with different leaders, and be the leader I need to be when called upon. My peer leadership on the football team was displayed this year when I was unanimously voted by my teammates to receive the Infinity Award. It is an award that is given to the senior that best exemplifies integrity, work ethic, mentorship, teamwork, and leadership. I was the best representation of infinity by means of going without limit to better my community and people around me. I will use my experience of overcoming barriers and differences to work alongside others that come from different walks of life, to better the community at my university and create a more inclusive learning environment for hardworking student athletes that believe in constant pursuance of esprit de corps.

In my sophomore year of high school during the fall I advocated and worked alongside the athletic director at my school to establish a wrestling program in the fall of 2022. By nature I am linebacker and have played football for the last 8 years of my life and in my sophomore year playing football on varsity as a backup linebacker I was told that wrestling would help me tackle better and goes hand in hand with football. I joined the team hoping to get better at tackling and learn better form to apply to the football field, but coincidentally I fell in love with the sport of wrestling and have participated every year since 2022 . It was a rough start to the program and unfortunately I had a losing season but that did not sway my determination to learn the game and eventually find success. While a majority of the team my sophomore year was football players hoping to get better in the offseason we had an amazing coach that made the most of practice and utilized the little resources our program was given. After the initial season many athletes left the school or decided to not return to wrestling due to the rigor of practice and our conditioning. my junior year I was the only returning member of the inaugural team the year prior. Along with my good friend I had asked to wrestle (also a football player) we came out and it was very challenging having such a small team but through the struggle we both had winning seasons and I won my region and advanced to the state tournament. At the state tournament I won 2 matches and placed number 5th in the state for the 165 weight class my junior year. Now currently in my senior season I still advocate for people to join the wrestling team and experience the amazing sport of wrestling. This year my school started a middle school wrestling program and the team has seen a large increase in athletes joining as much as four times the number of teammates that we had prior in my junior season. This season I have started off strong. I am currently undefeated with 4 wins in my first tournament. I hope to have a successful season and go to state. I hope for other students at my school to see my success at wrestling and choose to join the program regardless of its popularity or history. I would like to see the program excel after I graduate and continue to win matches. I can do this by proving that with determination and hard work anyone can join the wrestling team and find success.

In the southeastern United States lies a special place unlike anywhere else on earth. While most people consider the Southern Appalachian mountains to be nothing more than scenic hills tucked away in the far corners of the states they touch, these mountains are unique, set apart by a landscape of tall jagged peaks with long and winding valleys. Located in the North Carolina portion of the mountains is a trail that I've spent the last 3 summers traversing. This trail is called the Trans-WNC (Western North Carolina) and is 300 miles long and has 35,000ft of elevation change. The route is a “bikepacking” route that snakes through the mountains, starting in Virginia then winding through western North Carolina and ending in Georgia. Bikepacking combines long-distance off-road biking with camping; bikepackers carry all the camping gear needed for their journey in backpacks and bike bags. Until the summer before my sophomore year I had never bikepacked before. I had been an avid mountain biker for some time before the trip, and I hoped that this would allow me to bike on the road for many miles, while including my love of camping. For my first trip, the trail was mapped in a straight line instead of following the turns and bends of the mountain roads like I was expecting. I only completed one-quarter of the trail on this trip, but the route was so beautiful and enjoyable that my father and I both wanted to return to bike further on the trail. While I was only able to complete 80 miles on that first trip, I was not disappointed. I made great memories and enjoyed camping with my dad for three straight days, with a shared end goal of going as far as we could at our own pace. Much like the ups and downs of this bike trip, my academic career has been a journey of struggles and joys through formative education. Going into my trip, I knew a majority of the trail was going to be a difficult uphill climb, unlike any other challenge I had ever faced while biking. Similarly, due to my dyslexia, I struggled for many years through elementary and middle school with learning to be fluent in reading and writing. The college preparatory high school I attend puts a heavy emphasis on academics and advanced placement classes. Many times, I questioned if I was taking the right class for me and if I was making the right decision taking the more rigorous courses through high school. Just like while I was out on the trail biking, I utilized my skills of embracing the struggle and finding the joy hidden in the hardship and applied this to my classwork. After four years of struggling, I am proud to have chosen the difficult route less traveled. Even with the challenges of dyslexia, my endeavor of learning, and understanding my education, I found peace through the struggle and have applied that to my life. On my bike trips I crossed paths with many people that believed what I was doing was stupid or questioned how anyone could enjoy riding a bike up the tallest mountain on the east coast, but it has made a great impact on me and has ultimately led me to enjoy rigorous class work and prepared me for higher education.