My goals are probably different than the average 16 year old and can probably best be understood by hearing of my story.... It is almost midnight, and I am sitting on the floor of my room crying into my hands, as an anemone spins helplessly in the current of my uncooperative five-gallon saltwater tank. The filter is spitting sand into the cloudy water, and the walls are covered in green encrusting algae. Amidst the chaos, the hermit crab is finding a snail to be quite a delicious meal. It is not exactly a recreation of the picturesque reefs in Raja Ampat, but it is a shaky step forward. If nothing else, I am now aware of how often a filter cartridge should be changed. As a high school student in New Jersey, the most exposure I have had to coral reefs comes from the bookshelves in my room and the occasional Netflix documentary. However, I have always been fascinated by these incredible organisms that most people will mistake for rocks. For the past few years, I have conducted independent research surrounding a coral's symbiotic microalgae, known as zooxanthellae. My current research endeavor involves determining if zooxanthellae retains its ability to cycle nitrogen after being exposed to increased temperatures, in an attempt to culture algae that is resistant to bleaching caused by temperature stress. I plan to continue to conduct research in reef conservation throughout the rest of my high school career and beyond. I am particularly interested in the coral microbiome, and how it can be manipulated to achieve bleaching resistance. Modern reef conservation appears to be forming two paths; organizations are focusing on either replenishing damaged reefs with healthy corals or breeding heat-resistant organisms to prevent future bleaching events. My interest lies in the latter; while chasing bleaching events with restoration efforts may be a viable short-term solution, I believe that changes need to be made to prevent any future catastrophes. My goal is to join the scientific movement behind this endeavor and contribute to advancements in reef conservation across the world. After high school, my goal is to major in marine biology while playing lacrosse in college. I plan to pursue undergraduate research if the opportunity presents itself. Eventually, I would like to obtain my Ph.D. by conducting research in marine science. I am aware that a research topic is not always my choice; however, if given the option, I would choose to revolve my work around corals and the diverse ecosystems that depend on their health. My ultimate goal, like so many others in this field, is to preserve the diversity that coral reefs provide. The conservation and restoration process begins with something many of us take for granted: education. Even as a high school student, I believe it is my responsibility to educate those around me about the dire situation that coral reefs are currently facing. Presenting my research has already allowed me to connect with people from across several states, and I have realized the importance of spreading knowledge not only in the scientific community but also in local ones. I hope that my love for coral reefs will carry me across the world; I suppose the journey has already begun with a small tank in a bedroom window in New Jersey.

It is almost midnight, and I am sitting on the floor of my room crying into my hands, as an anemone spins helplessly in the current of my uncooperative five-gallon saltwater tank. The filter is spitting sand into the cloudy water, and the walls are covered in green encrusting algae. Amidst the chaos, the hermit crab is finding a snail to be quite a delicious meal. It is not exactly a recreation of the picturesque reefs in Raja Ampat, but it is a shaky step forward. If nothing else, I am now aware of how often a filter cartridge should be changed. As a high school student in New Jersey, the most exposure I have had to coral reefs comes from the bookshelves in my room and the occasional Netflix documentary. However, I have always been fascinated by these incredible organisms that most people will mistake for rocks. For the past few years, I have conducted independent research surrounding a coral's symbiotic microalgae, known as zooxanthellae. My current research endeavor involves determining if zooxanthellae retains its ability to cycle nitrogen after being exposed to increased temperatures, in an attempt to culture algae that is resistant to bleaching caused by temperature stress. I plan to continue to conduct research in reef conservation throughout the rest of my high school career and beyond. I am particularly interested in the coral microbiome, and how it can be manipulated to achieve bleaching resistance. Modern reef conservation appears to be forming two paths; organizations are focusing on either replenishing damaged reefs with healthy corals or breeding heat-resistant organisms to prevent future bleaching events. My interest lies in the latter; while chasing bleaching events with restoration efforts may be a viable short-term solution, I believe that changes need to be made to prevent any future catastrophes. My goal is to join the scientific movement behind this endeavor and contribute to advancements in reef conservation across the world. After high school, my goal is to major in marine biology while playing lacrosse in college. I plan to pursue undergraduate research if the opportunity presents itself. Eventually, I would like to obtain my Ph.D. by conducting research in marine science. I am aware that a research topic is not always my choice; however, if given the option, I would choose to revolve my work around corals and the diverse ecosystems that depend on their health. My ultimate goal, like so many others in this field, is to preserve the diversity that coral reefs provide. The conservation and restoration process begins with something many of us take for granted: education. Even as a high school student, I believe it is my responsibility to educate those around me about the dire situation that coral reefs are currently facing. Presenting my research has already allowed me to connect with people from across several states, and I have realized the importance of spreading knowledge not only in the scientific community but also in local ones. I hope that my love for coral reefs will carry me across the world; I suppose the journey has already begun with a small tank in a bedroom window in New Jersey.

My love for lacrosse started as early as I could remember. My father is 1 of 5 children who all went to college and played lacrosse. My first "pink" stick was hanging in my room before I was born and while I have played numerous sports in my youth, lacrosse is my passion. Growing up, I was the only girl to play in an all-boy box league. It wasn't until highschool, that I convinced my travel coach to extend our league to have a girl's box program. Here, I not only practice with my team, but I help coach the younger girls and inspire them to be brave and play hard. The "being brave" part is something I truly live by. At the age of 13, I was playing box lacrosse and after a routine cross check, I suffered from a Stage IV laceration to my kidney. I was told by physicians, I would most likely never play sports again and I should stick to the books. While I did continue to focus on my grades and have consistently maintained a 4.0 GPA, I healed, trained, and focused on a proper diet and have since made the USA NTDP team at the age of 15. I am currently ranked in the Top 30 in the country by Lacrosse Magazine and I hope to someday play in the Olympics with Team USA. My determination to be the best is assisted by the support of my amazing family. We drive hours each week just to get to our practice fields and training facilities, as lacrosse is not a primary sport in the town I am from. And while it is growing, I am dedicated to the team I started with as my coaches and teammates have been another family to me. Why I think this scholarship is a great fit for me is because, at the age of 7, I was told by my parents to start giving back to the community and work on some charitable giveback. I focussed on hosting lemonade stands. After the success of my first stand, I recruited many friends, family, teammates and the community. Together we have raised over $250,000 for pediatric cancer research and for local children that have needed some assistance. Our community calls upon our group, "Lacey Kids for a Cure", as a first-response team to assist in lifting the spirits of those that need it most, children with cancer. I am currently, in my prime year of being recruited to play lacrosse in college. I intend to study well beyond my college years. My plan is to continue with my education for graduate school while being a college coach as a graduate assistant and eventually earning my Ph.D. in Marine Biology. This scholarship would help me achieve those goals and help with the high costs of earning these degrees. Lacrosse is part of my soul. From the "Smith Family Turkey Day Shoot Out, which consists of my parents, uncles, aunts, and A LOT of cousins, who compete for nothing more than bragging rights; to the local high school team fighting to get someone to notice a sport other than football in the newspaper, I enjoy everything about the bond this sport brings. I recognize and appreciate the intentions behind this scholarship and who it stands for. I would respectfully represent Mr. Scott McLam with pride and ask that you please consider my application for this scholarship. Zoey Smith

Two years ago, I suffered from a stage IV laceration to the kidney. It was a blow I will never forget as my blood levels quickly dropped and I dropped to the floor. After being transferred from urgent care to a local hospital, I was immediately brought to a teaching hospital for children and remained there for 4 days. As a student-athlete with aspirations to play Division 1 sports, the prognosis was not positive. A team of physicians came in and told me how lucky I was to have survived as there was still internal bleeding. I was given strict orders to not perform any exercises for a minimum of 6 months. I was also told to "stick to the books as my athletic career was out of the picture". As my parents wept for their baby girl, I consoled them to say everything was OK. The fact is, I truly believed that. While CoVid was traumatic for so many people, my injury occurred a week before the United States shut down. This meant all sports were canceled for everyone. I used this time to my advantage and rested as directed. I began journaling and writing down my goals for not only academics but sports as well. I documented a weight plan, running plan, skills I could practice, and a timeline. By the time sports were picking up again, I had already investigated many athletes who played either without a kidney or with previous injuries to their kidneys. My parents and I spoke to a variety of physicians and sought out ways I could continue to pursue my dreams of playing D1 sports. I am now a sophomore with a 4.0-grade point average from a specialized school for Marine Biology, Technology, and Environmental Science. I play multiple sports and wear rib protection with each activity. I changed my meals to a plant-based diet so I can live a long, healthy life. And I proved to many that tenacity, discipline, and a positive outlook will help you conquer life's difficult challenges. Immediately after the healing took place, I tried out for the United States U16 National Development Program. With over 2500 athletes fighting for selection, I was 1 of 100 to make the team and I was one of the youngest players honored with the opportunity. Last month, I actually had multiple colleges reach out to me about playing for their schools. There are many lessons I learned from "the case of the crazy kidney". First, don't give up on your dream no matter who thinks differently. 2. Seek out all options and take pearls from everyone 3. Academics first, sports follow. Finally, support from family and friends plays a role in your success but ultimately a positive attitude by all can make the difference.

Math is essential to everything we do. From our finances, to building home projects and even decorating a room, we have to have the correct understanding of mathematical calculations. We can use math for charting purposes on the ocean waters and to figure out the rate of speed meteors may splash through the sky. Why I love learning math is because it challenges my brain to continually seek solutions to problems others may be disenchanted by. When I consider my curriculum at my current school, math is part of every subject matter. In history, we can see math being used by military when considering their plan of attack based on the number of tanks being produced by the opponent. Consider literary arts...when we speak of poetry, a haiku, stanzas, they have math components. Math is relatable to anyone who is willing to learn. The art lover can stare at a beautiful painting and see not only a beautiful craft but, they might be able to see Fibonacci's influence. I even use math for my sports when calculating my average number of goals per game and my chances of getting into the best college lacrosse programs based on the ratio of candidates per spots left to fill. In the future, I fully believe, my mathematical skills will allow me to think more critically and strategically in any business I choose. What I have also learned from math is that even though there may be one final answer, you can find a variety of ways to get there. Sometimes, that even requires teamwork. Teamwork in mathematics is exciting because you are able to literally see how people process ideas differently. You can see what motivates people. This motivating can be the stock market or finding a life partner. It's all so intriguing to me and allows me to think about subject matter through a different lens. My appreciation for math sets me apart from others in that it attracts me to want to continually learn and seek answers. It helps me to be more inquisitive and thoughtful. Math forces me to listen. As I prepare for college, I recognize these are skills and muscles I still need to grow. I think if we all looked at math the same way, we might even have more peace in the world. Consider how many mouths we could feed by calculating the amount of food we waste and had a system in place that would minimize the waste. This would minimize Diabetes and many other diseases. Or, let's talk about the amount of earth's destruction we cause from the emissions just from a cow. If more people cared about math and considered the numerical consequences of our actions, perhaps we would have a more peaceful world. I love math because it provides answers and often solutions. I would like everyone to like Math and to see why it is relevant to all that matters in our world. Perhaps that is the lesson we should teach in schools the first quarter of each school year. Maybe then would there be more appreciation for why math is so great.

Overall, my family takes our health seriously. My self-care comes in all forms as we include physical, mental and family health in that package. Our family converted to eating a plant-based diet 2 years ago. This was by choice for each of us. As my mother states, we are not snobs about our food, we just wanted to eat healthier. As an athlete and someone who cares for our environment, I believe this is for the better as well. I play lacrosse, track, and field hockey. Along with these activities, we also take seriously yoga and meditation. Three days a week, my father and I do Yoga for injury prevention and we will meditate once a week to keep grounded. Due to my grandfather's passing from melanoma, we learned early on the importance of using sunblock regularly. I take this seriously, as I am studying to be a Marine Biologist and spend much of my time out in the sun on the Jersey Shore. My mother works in healthcare and my aunt and uncle are dentists. So as one can imagine, we take our vitamins daily and visit our dentist every 3 months for hygiene and examination. In reading through this, we may sound pretty over the top and perhaps boring to some. It is part of our normal routine though and I am glad we do this. My results have led me to be one of the youngest lacrosse players for TEAM USA U16 development program and Varsity MVP as a freshman. I believe I have more energy and focus than most. I get plenty of sleep. I am a straight A student and as a family, we are very close. I wouldn't change that for anything. Plus, OREO's are vegan and we certainly don't deprive ourselves from those.

Since I was little, I have always wanted to play lacrosse for TEAM USA. I watched Michael Phelps win gold medals while sitting on the sofa with my family. At that point, the Olympics did not have lacrosse as of yet, but we knew there would be a time as it is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. I practiced. My work ethic was unheard of. I knew the steps I had to take to get there. Until.... It was the winter right before Covid hit the United States. I was playing box lacrosse (a much more aggressive form of lacrosse). I was so excited to get on the field, I forgot my ribcage. Within the first few minutes of the game, I was hit and quickly lost vision and went pale. After a trip to the urgent care and then a rush by ambulance between two different hospitals, I found myself at the trauma unit for a stage IV laceration to my kidney. The results led to numerous specialty physicians and fellows observing for a few days and telling me to seek another dream. I listened to what everyone had to say. There was one doctor who had hope and said let's just wait and see. With CoVid shutting everything down, this gave my body time to heal completely. After 6 months, I was given permission to play again. In 5 months, I would be trying out for my first attempt to play for Team USA's U16 developmental program. Out of 1000's of applicants, I was chosen to be in the top 100 and was 1 of the youngest players selected. My ability to believe in myself has shaped me in to who I am today; Team USA Lacrosse player, who always wears her rib cage.

It is my belief that you keep a growth mindset by continually building on your listening skills. You must have the heart, mind and determination to be willing to improve. A person must receive constructive criticism with an open mind in order to learn what they might be missing or the mistakes they made. What I have observed from my mother who is a business professional, is to have the patience to hear what others say and to have the respect to think about details provided. In doing so, we learn to appreciate what others have to offer and then gain a support system that will help you succeed. As a teenager, I have thus far, been fortunate to have wonderful friends. In the 7 years we have been together, we have not had one argument. We have been supportive and a cheerleader for one another. It is evident to me, this is not the norm for most teenage girls. What makes our group different is we truly care enough about helping each other succeed. We support each other’s interest. It is our open minds that allows us to connect. I often wonder what is so hard for others to see the benefit in this. An open mind set works in relationships and in self-improvement. As an athlete, I have to be a team player. This means, I can't be set in only my ways at the disregard for my coach or teammates perspective. This has led to me being chosen as captain. These skills I will carry with me. I will continue to adapt. There may be setbacks on wanting to be right or moving too fast, the open mind can carry me far. I plan on chasing my dreams and embracing my challenges with an open mind.

I would like to complete a PhD in Marine Biology and find a way to rejuvenate our coral reefs. My goals include finding avenues to not only protect what coral reef we have remaining, but to grow new coral reefs that will acclimate to temperature changes. The beauty of this ecosystem allows for so many other creatures to thrive and survive. Without them, ocean life, as we know it, will not endure much longer. I plan on partnering with the scientific community, technology geniuses, policy makers and more to make this happen. I will not only expand my knowledge of marine life, but I will find ways to work with business partners. Together, we can engage a larger audience to help preserve coral and inspire society to be better than we have been in the past. The mission will be to provide a better environment for marine life and eliminate the extinction of life under the sea. This will be a world wide effort and through my educational travels, scientific background and business mindset, coral reefs will not be of the past, but of our bright future.

The lesson of patience begins early in life. We wait to eat. We wait for our diapers to be changed. We wait with our parents in line. We wait for our siblings. This skill teaches us so much more than patience alone. When we learn to ride a bike, our parents need to have patience. Most of all, the child learns that in time they will succeed in learning to ride. With further tenacity, we even take off the training wheels. We gain a sense of independence. While some may look at learning to ride a bike as simply a mastery of an ordinary exercise, it actually teaches us determination, will power, listening skills, acceptance, and taking risk. It allows us to build courage and have faith in our skillsets. If we weren't patient with the process, we would give up and miss out on these life lessons. Patience is important to me because I have learned that great things come with being patient. When recovering from a stage IV laceration to my kidney, I learned that with patience you can accomplish many other tasks that help build your character. I put time into studying for SAT's and learning about recovery techniques that I can use again. It is not easy, however, I believe this skill of patience sets me apart from many of my peers. I have become a leader in the classroom, school and community. I am a leader on the field as an athlete. The perserverence to drive through tough times by being patient has led to much of my early success. Hopefully, this positive journey will continue in the right direction. If it should turn though, I know to practice being patient as good things are to come. .

One of the biggest challenges in our world is the negative utilization of technology. Whether it is texting, social media, misinterpretation of emails, etc., it has put a kink into the growth of our society and overall behavior. Let me present an example of a classroom full of high school teenagers. If there ever is time to spare in a class period, the teacher may allow the students to socialize within the classroom. What is interesting is, you won't actually hear verbal communication. What you might see, is a student texting to another student who is two rows back instead of speaking to them. If one does not participate in the technology the way the majority does, they are ostracized. Respect for one another has deteriorated and our society is missing a key element of mature growth. Many people also utilize social media to gain popularity. Instead of being their authentic self, they post their "happy" life shots to make others believe their world is better than the person reading the post. Even worse with social media, is the outrage of political posts bad mouthing others for the mere thought thinking differently. There is room for technology, texting and social media. Perhaps some structure and laws would allow for people to think twice about what they text or post. Perhaps some etiquette classes on technology utilization. Parents need to be stern and be role models for younger generations. Politicians and business owners should be thoughtful on the tone they are presenting. Most people would agree, there is a need for change in this area, however, many are afraid of the freedom it might take away.

Two days before my 13th birthday, I was playing indoor box lacrosse. My athletic goal is to play lacrosse for Team USA someday. My academic goal is to pursue a degree in Marine Biology. This particular day was one that put a lot of goals into perspective for me. In my excitement to get out on the field, I forgot one vital piece of equipment, my rib protector. I was doing well that day. The coaches were impressed at the level of play I was demonstrating. As the game progressed, I felt a blow to my side and I quickly lost vision. It wasn't as hard as some other bumps I had received, but still hard enough to make me realize I could not see anything and I didn't feel well. Hours later, after being shuffled by ambulance to a variety of hospitals, I was told I had suffered a Stage IV laceration to my kidney. I was later advised to never play impact sports again. I should stick to the books and lay low on any activity for minimum 6 months. It was now a time to reflect on what is important. I am a quiet, determined individual who does not believe in giving up. While I focussed on my schooling so I could graduate #1 in my class, I wrote down my goals. 1. Family, 2. Grades, 3. Lacrosse. It was simple to put my family first. For lacrosse, I needed to build strength and stamina. I needed to believe in myself. I do not believe in accepting "can't" as an answer. After 6 months of determination, I was cleared to play again. I have practiced hard and I am proud to say, this past summer, I was chosen to be part of the USA Lacrosse Development Team.

Climate change starts with taking action. Each of our own individual actions make a difference. This is one of the main reasons I decided to change my diet to plant based at the age of 13. We need to speak the language and educate ourselves on using the proper tools to save the climate. Our actions can be contagious if we exemplify what great looks like when it comes to proactively saving our environment. Utilizing solar energy, recycling correctly, minimizing chemicals that flow into our waters are just some examples of places to start. The food we eat can change not only change the carbon dioxide levels, as well as protecting our ocean floor, but it benefits our own individual health. This is what motivates me as an athlete and aspiring marine biologist. Because of the changes and actions I have taken, many of my friends have altered their own thinking. They see my success and inquire about my habits. While many may question these actions, I believe my passion has led others to show compassion. It is only then will people be more cognizant of their role in our this ever changing world. It only takes 1 to make a difference and I plan on leading the way.

Finding balance in all you do is the best way to live a long, healthy life. Balance can include time spent investing in personal relationships as well as food, exercise, work, social media, phone utilization, protecting the environment and more. We have to approach all we take on with respect or it can become abused. Here are some examples....Food tastes great when we eat the appropriate proportion size. Exercise feels good when we have enough sleep, nourishment and will power. A relationship goes smoothly when both parties are willing to care enough to make a difference for one another. When we find balance and respect for one another, whether it is in marriage, friendship, or work, the experience become more pleasant, Some may feel money is the best answer to a happy life. Money does not bring a healthy life or a long one for that matter. And no matter how much money you have, if you haven't lived a life that is filled with love, money can easily become a crutch. Our environment, when abused, can become toxic. Birds stop migrating, bees cannot find their home, coral reefs are destroyed. Too much of a good thing from a society is often the culprit of extra rules and laws. These same things that bring us joy are causing us to over-utilize and add stress to our lives. With a sense of balance, we CAN be the solution to living a long and healthy life.