When I was thirteen years old my family was hit with a very sudden and bitter reality. After my dad had been sick for a month, his doctor sent him for an MRI, revealing that he had glioblastoma, an extremely aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer. This required immediate surgery so there was no time to think, only to act. Being in such a comfortable situation for my whole life, I thought about things like this as far off and distant, almost impossible. But here it was. My dad moved to the hospital one night and a couple days later had surgery on his brain to have the tumor removed. Even after the success of the surgery and the blessing that it was, the relief was quickly followed by looming questions and obstacles to face. Through it all we all had our faith in Jesus centering us. Although the difficulties could have been obstacles to my faith, it only grew. My dad lived five years after his initial diagnosis, pushing far past the fifteen months he was told he had. And with this gift of time, my dad’s illness had brought me imaginable grief but also important lessons. This not only made me stronger in my faith, but opened my eyes to real struggles, and how to be more loving and less self-centered. I have found myself becoming much more grateful for time spent with family, developing a better perspective on each day, and appreciating the little things that remind me to be grateful, even in the midst of painful situations. I now believe that I can push through the most difficult times in my life and remain confident in my ability to succeed. The legacy that my dad left was great, but I know that he is not the only person who had, or was impacted, by it. So, in order to bring more awareness and support to this cause I wanted to create a fundraiser that would take place at my first lacrosse game of the season in my dad’s honor. Many people helped me with arranging this event, but I made the link, the fundraiser website, and the QR code for the fundraiser where all of the money would go. We successfully raised $5,672 for the Glioblastoma Research Organization, a disease that is both devastating and relentless. While the challenge it presents is immense, every bit of awareness and support is a step forward in the fight against it. My goal was to contribute in any way I could, to help others avoid the suffering that it brought my family and me. Every effort counts in the battle against this disease. Throughout all of this perseverance and difficulty I realized that I can get through hard times successfully. I found that I enjoy engineering, just like my dad. He helped me come to the realization that I can climb mountains that seem impossible to peak. I found a passion in something similar to my dad and I hope to honor him in it, no matter how hard it may get, I can make it through. I just can’t look at it as such a large feat because that may not seem possible. But taking a step never looks impossible. So, I will honor my dad through my efforts to be the best that I can in every aspect of my life, especially in a similar field to him. My drive for success, despite my personal and financial setbacks, will honor my dad, my family and those who chose to provide me with a helping hand.

One high school student leaves school to spend the rest of their evening hanging out with friends, playing video games or having dinner with their family. Another student goes home to help his dad who is confined to bed, immobile due to the effects of his brain cancer. That student was me. While I still attended school activities, hung out with friends and played video games, those activities often took a back seat. When I was thirteen years old my family was hit with a very sudden and bitter reality. After my dad had been sick for a month, his doctor sent him for an MRI, revealing that he had glioblastoma, an extremely aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer. At the end of my junior year the cancer returned and required a second surgery. Both the surgery and the spread of cancer had greatly limited his physical abilities to the point where he could no longer perform simple actions on his own like sitting up, walking, using the bathroom and showering. So, the responsibility of helping him do these things fell on us…his family. My dad persevered far longer than the fifteen months the doctors told him he had. With this gift of time, my dad’s illness brought me imaginable grief but also important lessons. This not only made me stronger in my faith, but opened my eyes to real struggles, and how to try to be more loving and less self-centered. Being the oldest of three brothers, I have always tried to be the strongest and hold it together for everyone. I have found myself being far more thankful for time with family, having a better view of each day, and all of the little things that add up to gratitude even in the midst of painful situations. I can push through the most difficult times in my life, and be confident I can succeed. Life no longer feels the same after he passed. My mom and brothers are going to have a small knot within ourselves for a long time that is just going to make everything that might be familiar seem just a bit off. The adjustment will not be easy but I know we’ve come through every step of this journey together, and we will come through this as well. Throughout all of this perseverance and difficulty I realized that I can get through hard times successfully. I found that I truly enjoy engineering, just like my dad. He helped me come to the realization that I can climb mountains that seem impossible to peak. I found a passion in something similar to my dad and I hope to honor him in it, no matter how hard it may get, I can make it through. I just can’t look at it as such a large feat because that may not seem possible. But taking a step never looks impossible. So, I will honor my dad through my efforts to be the best that I can in every aspect of my life, especially in a similar field to what he did. My drive for success, despite my personal and financial setbacks, will honor my dad, my family and those who chose to provide me with a helping hand.

One of my teammates was struggling at a routine footwork drill, he would do everything right until the very last part, a ground ball. It was something so simple but after he had missed it multiple times it started to get into his head. I pulled him aside and encouraged him, explaining there was no reason to get into his head. He nodded and kept playing, clearly frustrated but after a few more repetitions, he had it down. You are not a leader from the moment you are named captain but you get named a captain because you are a leader. This small interaction might have not seemed like much, but my goal was to help him through a moment that to a new player trying to make an impression on his team, felt significant. I wanted to make sure that his struggle did not separate him from being part of the lacrosse brotherhood. I have grown into leadership through managing struggles of my own and by quietly being an example of hard work and excellence. Leaders care about and respect others. When you give something your all, you gain citizenship through the bonds with those next to you working just as hard; even though you might not see their efforts like they might not see yours…you all see the results. You become one of them, accepted, valued. Nevertheless, you continue to work as hard as you can with the same dedication, and suddenly you find success, excellence together. I know that lacrosse as a sport gets a bad rap, understandably, I know how some lacrosse guys can get. I have always tried to stay humble because people who are prideful are very distasteful and I do not want to ever be that person. My high school lacrosse team is very similar, starting from our head coach, Joe Gannon, who sprouted a culture of hard work without ego. It is simple, you put in hard work not for yourself, but the guy next to you and the guy after that and so on because they are working just as hard as you and each guy on the team deserves each other's best. There is no space for any amount of arrogance. As I have worked through my whole lacrosse career, I have always made sure to put in my best work ethic and dedication. You won't realize how much the hard work has paid off until far down the road, after many tireless days of dedication and work that seem so futile in the moment, yet you keep going. It’s been the best lesson in personal excellence: starting with small fundamentals, mastering them, and then putting in the work religiously. While these are all examples on the field, every one transfers to academics or personal growth. Attention to detail and honoring the small things—working hard on skills, lending a hand to a teammate or coach, leading through kindness and by example—they all matter. These things make a team better; they make my community better, and they make me better.

When I was thirteen years old my family was hit with a very sudden and bitter reality. After my dad had been sick for a month, his doctor sent him for an MRI, revealing that he had glioblastoma, an extremely aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer. This required immediate surgery so there was no time to think, only to act. Being in such a comfortable situation for my whole life, I thought about things like this as far off and distant, almost impossible. But here it was. My dad moved to the hospital one night and a couple days later had surgery on his brain to have the tumor removed. Even after the success of the surgery and the blessing that it was, the relief was quickly followed by looming questions and obstacles to face. Through it all we all had our faith in Jesus centering us. Although the difficulties could have been obstacles to my faith, my faith only grew. After a five year battle with glioblastoma my dad passed away, but the whole journey not only made me stronger in my faith, but opened my eyes to real struggles, and how to try to be more loving and less self-centered. Being the oldest of three brothers, I have always tried to be the strongest and hold it together for everyone. I have found myself being far more thankful for time with family, having a better view on each day, and all of the little things that add up to gratitude even in the midst of painful situations, I can push through the most difficult times in my life, and be confident I can succeed. My dad was a civil engineer and he used his skills in helpful and beneficial ways not only for his work. One of those ways was when my dad went on a church mission trip to the Dominican Republic. There he helped design and build a safe space for women to meet in the community. He gladly donated his time to this cause and to use his skills for other people’s benefit, something that I desire to carry on as well through my skills. Just like my dad, I found that I truly enjoy engineering. He helped me come to the realization that I can climb mountains that seem impossible to peak. I found a passion in something similar to my dad and I hope to honor him in it, no matter how hard it may get, I can make it through, he did. I just can’t look at it as such a large feat that might not seem possible. But taking a step never looks impossible. It just takes one step at a time, moment after moment. So, I will honor my dad through my efforts to be the best that I can in every aspect of my life, especially in a similar field to what he did.

When I was thirteen years old my family was hit with a very sudden and bitter reality. After my dad had been sick for a month, his doctor sent him for an MRI, revealing that he had glioblastoma, an extremely aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer. This required immediate surgery so there was no time to think, only to act. Being in such a comfortable situation for my whole life, I thought about things like this as far off and distant, almost impossible. But here it was. My dad moved to the hospital one night and a couple days later had surgery on his brain to have the tumor removed. Even after the success of the surgery and the blessing that it was, the relief was quickly followed by looming questions and obstacles to face. Through it all we all had our faith in Jesus centering us. Although the difficulties could have been obstacles to my faith, my faith only grew. After a five year battle with glioblastoma my dad passed away, but the whole journey not only made me stronger in my faith, but opened my eyes to real struggles, and how to try to be more loving and less self-centered. Being the oldest of three brothers, I have always tried to be the strongest and hold it together for everyone. I have found myself being far more thankful for time with family, having a better view on each day, and all of the little things that add up to gratitude even in the midst of painful situations, I can push through the most difficult times in my life, and be confident I can succeed. My dad was a civil engineer and he used his skills in helpful and beneficial ways not only for his work. One of those ways was when my dad went on a church mission trip to the Dominican Republic. There he helped design and build a safe space for women to meet in the community. He gladly donated his time to this cause and to use his skills for other people’s benefit, something that I desire to carry on as well through my skills. Just like my dad, I found that I truly enjoy engineering. He helped me come to the realization that I can climb mountains that seem impossible to peak. I found a passion in something similar to my dad and I hope to honor him in it, no matter how hard it may get, I can make it through, he did. I just can’t look at it as such a large feat that might not seem possible. But taking a step never looks impossible. It just takes one step at a time, moment after moment. So, I will honor my dad through my efforts to be the best that I can in every aspect of my life, especially in a similar field to what he did.

When I was thirteen years old my family was hit with a very sudden and bitter reality. After my dad had been sick for a month, his doctor sent him for an MRI, revealing that he had glioblastoma, an extremely aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer. This required immediate surgery so there was no time to think, only to act. Being in such a comfortable situation for my whole life, I thought about things like this as far off and distant, almost impossible. But here it was. My dad moved to the hospital one night and a couple days later had surgery on his brain to have the tumor removed. Even after the success of the surgery and the blessing that it was, the relief was quickly followed by looming questions and obstacles to face. Through it all we all had our faith in Jesus centering us. Although the difficulties could have been obstacles to my faith, my faith only grew. After a five year battle with glioblastoma my dad passed away, but the whole journey not only made me stronger in my faith, but opened my eyes to real struggles, and how to try to be more loving and less self-centered. Being the oldest of three brothers, I have always tried to be the strongest and hold it together for everyone. I have found myself being far more thankful for time with family, having a better view on each day, and all of the little things that add up to gratitude even in the midst of painful situations, I can push through the most difficult times in my life, and be confident I can succeed. My dad was a civil engineer and he used his skills in helpful and beneficial ways not only for his work. One of those ways was when my dad went on a church mission trip to the Dominican Republic. There he helped design and build a safe space for women to meet in the community. He gladly donated his time to this cause and to use his skills for other people’s benefit, something that I desire to carry on as well through my skills. Just like my dad, I found that I truly enjoy engineering. He helped me come to the realization that I can climb mountains that seem impossible to peak. I found a passion in something similar to my dad and I hope to honor him in it, no matter how hard it may get, I can make it through, he did. I just can’t look at it as such a large feat that might not seem possible. But taking a step never looks impossible. It just takes one step at a time, moment after moment. So, I will honor my dad through my efforts to be the best that I can in every aspect of my life, especially in a similar field to what he did.

When I was thirteen years old my family was hit with a very sudden and bitter reality. After my dad had been sick for a month, his doctor sent him for an MRI, revealing that he had glioblastoma, an extremely aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer. This required immediate surgery so there was no time to think, only to act. Being in such a comfortable situation for my whole life, I thought about things like this as far off and distant, almost impossible. But here it was. My dad moved to the hospital one night and a couple days later had surgery on his brain to have the tumor removed. Even after the success of the surgery and the blessing that it was, the relief was quickly followed by looming questions and obstacles to face. Through it all we all had our faith in Jesus centering us. Although the difficulties could have been obstacles to my faith, my faith only grew. After a five year battle with glioblastoma my dad passed away, but the whole journey not only made me stronger in my faith, but opened my eyes to real struggles, and how to try to be more loving and less self-centered. Being the oldest of three brothers, I have always tried to be the strongest and hold it together for everyone. I have found myself being far more thankful for time with family, having a better view on each day, and all of the little things that add up to gratitude even in the midst of painful situations, I can push through the most difficult times in my life, and be confident I can succeed. My dad was a civil engineer and he used his skills in helpful and beneficial ways not only for his work. One of those ways was when my dad went on a church mission trip to the Dominican Republic. There he helped design and build a safe space for women to meet in the community. He gladly donated his time to this cause and to use his skills for other people’s benefit, something that I desire to carry on as well through my skills. Just like my dad, I found that I truly enjoy engineering. He helped me come to the realization that I can climb mountains that seem impossible to peak. I found a passion in something similar to my dad and I hope to honor him in it, no matter how hard it may get, I can make it through, he did. I just can’t look at it as such a large feat that might not seem possible. But taking a step never looks impossible. It just takes one step at a time, moment after moment. So, I will honor my dad through my efforts to be the best that I can in every aspect of my life, especially in a similar field to what he did.

I have grown up in a very stable home: my mom is a teacher, my dad was a civil engineer, and my brothers are smart and kind. We enjoy sharing meals, traveling at every opportunity, and making sure that we all get the most out of our experiences together. When I was thirteen years old my family was hit with a very sudden and bitter reality. After my dad had been sick for a month, his doctor sent him for an MRI, revealing that he had glioblastoma, an extremely aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer. This required immediate surgery so there was no time to think, only to act. Being in such a comfortable situation for my whole life, I thought about things like this as far off and distant, almost impossible. But here it was. My dad moved to the hospital one night and a couple days later had surgery on his brain to have the tumor removed. Even after the success of the surgery and the blessing that it was, the relief was quickly followed by looming questions and obstacles to face. Through it all we all had our faith in Jesus centering us. Although the difficulties could have been obstacles to my faith, my faith only grew. My dad lived five years after his initial diagnosis, pushing far past the fifteen months he was told he had. I truly account this blessing to God. This not only made me stronger in my faith, but opened my eyes to real struggles, and how to try to be more loving and less self-centered. Being the oldest of three brothers, I have always tried to be the strongest and hold it together for everyone. Along with these difficulties I have experienced many blessings, and these have truly shed light on the things that are taken for granted in everyday life, things that we should be extremely thankful for. I have found myself being far more thankful for time with family, having a better view on each day, and all of the little things that add up to gratitude even in the midst of painful situations. I learned that things can change quickly, so just enjoy things for what they are. In the really good times we should live in them and be thankful because you just never know what could change for good or bad. I have been very blessed throughout my life, and I am truly thankful for all of it; even in the difficulties of my dad’s cancer, my family and I just keep moving forward day by day and taking one thing at a time. Each day that this hardship has gone on in my life has helped prepare me more for my future. The difficulty it brought has enabled me to persevere through things, push through the most difficult times in my life, and be confident I can succeed. The education I receive is important to me and the impact that his lessons and my education have on my life are profound.

As I walk up I hear the river rushing through the rocks, smell fresh rainfall, and feel the serenity of it all. I love peace that is felt right before the first cast, looking forward to a great day of fishing. I was born and raised in Colorado, where there is great access to the outdoors and nature and its beauty, so, from a very young age I have been a fisherman, and a fly fisherman in particular. My grandpa started fly fishing long before I was born. He passed the joy that he found in fly fishing to his daughter, my mom, who introduced my dad to it and finally to me and my brothers. Fly fishing is something I have done for as long as I can remember, but it really caught on with me about four or five years ago. The excitement and happiness that it brings me has not worn off. I truly enjoy the difficulty of attempt after attempt for a fish, knowing there is a chance for a great reward for my efforts. This sport has so many intricacies that I find rewarding: the serenity of the sound of the river, the hope for a giant fish, my heart skipping a beat when a fish bites, the fight, the mountains and the peace of being surrounded by beauty. It is these things and many more that make this something that keeps me engaged for hours on end, and something that I can’t stop thinking about. While going fishing alone is fun, being able to go with friends and family and being able to share that joy is another level of memory-making. It is something I love to share with others because I want them to experience that fun and the “addiction” that I feel. Fly fishing is very intricate, from the simple ability to look at water to see where the fish will be, to the exact fly pattern and rig, the size, depth, and length of line, there is always space for something new to learn. Whenever I get the chance to go on a guided trip, I try to ask questions to really gain knowledge on what I am doing and how to truly get better at fishing, but the best way to learn more about how to catch more fish is just to go out there. There are plenty of days where you are unsuccessful, but you are learning and getting better at the craft. Those days still happen no matter the skill level, but it doesn’t ever stop me from going back as quickly as I possibly can. The more you fish and try to learn new methods, the better you get, and the more fish you end up catching. Like anything, it is the consistency and dedication that ultimately develops your skill. The sport of fly fishing has truly brought another place of great joy into my life that I can always look forward to. It is something that I only had to try once and immediately knew that I would enjoy it. Fly fishing is a sport of waiting, so it has taught me to be far more patient with things I am waiting on, people, my studies, and myself. Ultimately, I think fishing teaches me skills which will help me in college: how to ask questions, be patient when it is required, and enjoy successes.

Lacrosse has been such a large part of my life for so long and it is something that I love and have spent lots of time growing in. I began playing lacrosse in first grade and the journey has been extremely rewarding even through all of the ups and downs. The memories that it has given me are priceless and will always be cherished. Throughout my career I have been on successful and unsuccessful teams. Even with the hours put into my lacrosse career, I wasn’t a four year starter. My freshman year I decided that I would join a club team to hone my skills. To my surprise I was switched to a position that I was unfamiliar with but faced it happily; turning out to be the position where I strive. My freshman year of my high school team I was placed on junior varsity and enjoyed my time learning as much as I could and making relationships that would prove to be invaluable. My sophomore year I was placed on swing playing both varsity and junior varsity; although it had its aches, it was vital to my development. As junior year came around I was placed on varsity, to which I was ecstatic and fully prepared. Again to my surprise I was switched to a different position. Although shocked, I knew that if this was where the team needed me I would gladly take it on. But just as quickly as I switched positions I was switched back to my original position and yet again wanted to excel wherever I was placed. I am grateful to say that I have proven myself on my high school lacrosse team as a starter and hopeful captain. No matter the changes I faced, each one molded me to who I am today. Even through these changes, I always held myself to a high standard, which has proven to be invaluable. This came in the form of being a leader on the more unsuccessful teams, working behind the scenes to prove myself on better teams, and pushing myself to be a leader on great teams. I worked to achieve all of these heights because being valued in something you love is a priceless feeling. All of the dedication pays off, it just takes work and patience. My whole lacrosse journey truly helped me become the person I am today, through the confidence, leadership, and dedication it placed in me. This has made me want to spread that feeling of value to all because I know what it feels like to be overlooked, or unseen. To give every ounce of yourself to be unnoticed. The work that is put in behind the scenes is what gives you the opportunity to prove yourself when the time comes. I want to make sure that everyone feels valued for the work that they put into what they love whether it is seen or unseen. I desire to bring a dedication and hard working mindset that will carry on throughout my education and my future career.