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Allison Sundberg

2,095

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Finalist

Bio

I am a sophomore at Michigan State University, majoring in either supply chain management or agribusiness. I am involved in multiple clubs at MSU, including the Sustainable Business Association and Supply Chain Management Association. Additionally, I work in the Office of Continuous Improvement for the State of Michigan, where I assist with Lean Process Improvement workshops and processes. During high school, I was active in volunteer organizations such as the National Honor Society. I also played varsity volleyball for three years, contributing to our team's Conference Championship win and receiving all-conference and all-area honors. I have a keen interest in mentoring and volunteering, and I enjoy traveling with friends and family to explore new places and cultures. I am committed to stepping out of my comfort zone to become a stronger leader and person. Despite facing challenges, I have always found the silver lining, pushed myself to grow, and strived to become a better person.

Education

Michigan State University

Bachelor's degree program
2023 - 2027
  • Majors:
    • Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other

St Johns High School

High School
2019 - 2023

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Bachelor's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Logistics and Supply Chain

    • Dream career goals:

    • Assistant at Eli Broad College of Business, Dean's Office

      Michigan State University
      2023 – 20241 year
    • Student Assistant - Lean Process Improvement

      State of Michigan
      2024 – Present10 months
    • Beverage Cart and Customer Service

      Hawk Hollow Golf Course
      2023 – Present1 year
    • Food Runner/Assist Wait Staff

      Relli's Italian Restaurant
      2023 – 2023
    • Recreation Assistant

      St Johns Parks & Recreation
      2021 – 2021

    Sports

    Volleyball

    Varsity
    2019 – 20223 years

    Awards

    • All Conference Selection
    • All Area Selection
    • AAU Scholar Athlete
    • Selected by teammates as Best Offense 2021

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Michigan Veteran Association — Helping with the parade
      2022 – 2022
    • Volunteering

      SJHS Rake & Run — member
      2019 – Present
    • Volunteering

      Youth Action Committee — Member and participant
      2019 – Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    TEAM ROX Scholarship
    In high school, I was an active member of the Booster’s Club, and I distinctly remember a time when our club was organizing a fundraising event for new sports equipment. I took the initiative to rally my classmates and the local community to participate in the event, and through strategic planning and effective communication, we were able to exceed our fundraising goals. This experience taught me the value of teamwork and determination in achieving a common goal, and it reinforced my belief in the power of collective efforts to bring about positive change. As a college student, I've had the opportunity to develop and refine my ability to support and empower others. Through various experiences such as providing academic assistance through tutoring and mentoring programs, actively participating in community service initiatives, and being a dependable friend and listener, I have enhanced my skills in helping others. Joining clubs and organizations that focus on community service not only allowed me to give back, but also ignited and nurtured my passion for making a positive impact on those around me. I find genuine fulfillment in knowing that my actions, no matter how small, can contribute to someone else's well-being. Joining clubs and organizations focused on community service has not only allowed me to give back, but it has also sparked and nurtured my passion for making a positive impact on those around me. This journey has solidified my commitment to continuing my development as a helpful and supportive individual, and I'm excited to see where this path takes me beyond college. One of the significant clubs I joined is the sustainability club, which has given me the opportunity to actively contribute to environmental initiatives and promote sustainable practices on campus. I find genuine fulfillment in knowing that even small actions can In high school, I was an active member of the boosters club, and I distinctly remember a time when our club was organizing a fundraising event for new sports equipment. I took the initiative to rally my classmates and the local community to participate in the event, and through strategic planning and effective communication, we were able to exceed our fundraising goals. This experience taught me the value of teamwork and determination in achieving a common goal, and it reinforced my belief in the power of collective efforts to bring about positive change. In addition, I have been an active member of the supply chain club, where I have learned about and contributed to discussions on effective supply chain management and logistics. Moreover, as a member of the women in business club, I have had the opportunity to engage in empowering and supporting initiatives aimed at fostering a more inclusive and diverse business environment. These experiences have affirmed my commitment to personal growth as a helpful and supportive individual, and I'm excited to continue on this path beyond college.
    Love Island Fan Scholarship
    Jealousy, competition, and lust are all huge parts of Love Island's challenges. Each season there is normally a few cast members that fans fall in love with. This season, I started watching and did not know if I would like Leah. I ended up really falling in love with her wit and personality. Leah made me want to watch the show. I think a great challenge would be for cast members to each anonymously send in a quote that shows a little about their character. This could be funny, intelligent, or even blunt. Each cast member would get a chance to choose which cast member wrote the quote by engaging the person with a dance or kiss. The person who chooses the correct person the most times would get a date with anyone they choose. One thing that I think is lacking on Love Island is the length of the dates, so I would suggest the date lasts 8 hours and they do something adventurous. I believe a challenge that leads to a bigger prize will encourage cast members to expand their horizons and choose people they might not have otherwise chosen. This could expand connections beyond looks or the initial conversations they had with a cast member that isn't normally their type.
    Eden Alaine Memorial Scholarship
    Life is not promised so live it to the fullest. After my grandpa's death, my grandma realized that life is not always promised and to live it to the fullest and I quickly realized the same after she passed. After my Grandpa died, my grandma began to pick up hobbies to occupy herself like taking on a larger role at her church, spending time with friends, and doing crossword puzzles. She loved everything about the church community and people loved her too. When she was not at church, she was with her family or her friends, traveling, or doing crosswords next to her loyal dog, Taz. My brother and I would visit and we would sit and chat with her on her couch. My family went to my grandma's house for dinners or to just hang out and play cards. We would talk, have fun, or plan vacations. Throughout my whole life, my grandma and my family would go places together like Florida, Virginia, and St. Thomas. These vacations are very special to me. When I go back to them, they make me think of her and all the fun and laughs we had. In addition to my grandma traveling with us, she would also travel alone or with my uncle. When she traveled alone, she would visit places like Japan, Australia, and Alaska. During her travels, she would meet people and enjoy her time. My grandma loved to explore new cultures and it is the reason my family and I travel so much. I did not get to visit her much, but when I did it was the last time I would see her. I went to the hospital with my mom and brother, my dad was already there. We brought her favorite snack, peanut M&M's. This was all new to me, I have not lost someone this close to me. All the hospital sounds, lights, people, and hallways were overwhelming. Tears were already starting to roll down my face, I walked into her room trying to hold them back so my grandma did not see. I sit down on the chair right next to where she is lying and look at her, she looks so different from the last time I saw her. I try to speak but I can't, I struggle to hold back my tears. She was very weak and not in a good mental place because of all the medications. She did not know exactly what was happening, but I gave her the biggest hug and said “I love you so much, Grandma”. Everyone shared memories they loved and will miss and we showed her so much love. Only a couple of hours later, she passed away. Later on, I sat in my house next to my family, and we talked, My dad spoke to us, and he said, “Grandma lived well and that she is in a better place now”. While listening to my dad talk, I think about what he said and reply “I love grandma and I wish we would have had more time with her”. My dad pauses and then says “I think this will help us all realize we do not have forever and tomorrow is not always promised so we all have to live life to the fullest”. I realized in that moment that life is not always promised, tomorrow is not promised, nothing is. Make time for family, make time for friends, and do the things you have always wanted to do because life is not always promised and I learned that the most difficult way anyone can.
    Strong Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship
    “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower,” was a statement from Steve Jobs. Leadership is influencing and inspiring others to be a better version of themselves. I am inspired by many people in my life. I did not think of them as leaders to me until lately. I find that I am inspired to be at the forefront of innovation, hopefully taking my education and career to the next level. As I go into my freshman year of college, I realize I have many years of growth ahead of me, but I can lead from where I am. I strive to be kind, brave and to be on the forefront of new technology and advancement in my chosen field of supply chain management. For over 6 years, I have been able to volunteer and serve my community in numerous ways. In addition, in high school, I was a member of the National Honor Society, Youth Action Committee, and Compassion Club. Through these organizations, I have volunteered on Veteran’s Day, been involved in the Rake & Run to rake leaves for the elderly or people unable to rake their lawns and can drives to raise money. I have also aided with coaching and helping volleyball camps through school and volleyball clubs. Volunteer work has allowed me to advance my skills, develop patience, and helped me grow as a friend. My goal is to be the best version of myself. In the future, I plan to continue to contribute back to the communities in which I live. I always try to lead from where I am and hope to be able to learn more about leadership and continue to grow my skill set. Throughout my volunteer work, I was able to meet new people and become more comfortable talking to people with diverse backgrounds. In addition, volunteering has helped me develop leadership skills and helped me feel like I am part of the community. These experiences have helped me become more self-confident and enrich my life. I have developed a passion to help people and have developed my supportive nature. In college, I plan to join clubs to continue to give back to the community and continue to nurture my leadership skills. I will attend Michigan State University in the fall and one specific cause I would like to be a part of is Spartans Serve. This program gives back in many ways, but to summarize, they make the world a better place through community service. To summarize, I was able to learn so much from the appreciation I get from the people I am helping. Young or old, I love getting to know people better and learning from them. I learned new ways to help younger volleyball players. Each person learns uniquely, and I was able to find new ways to connect. On the other end of the spectrum, I was able to talk with my elders and learn new ways to look at life and my future. Each opportunity has been a wonderful experience and I plan to continue this work into the future.
    Scholarship Institute’s Annual Women’s Leadership Scholarship
    “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower,” was a statement from Steve Jobs. Leadership is influencing and inspiring others to be a better version of themselves. I am inspired by many people in my life. I did not think of them as leaders to me until lately. I find that I am inspired to be at the forefront of innovation, hopefully taking my education and career to the next level. As I go into my freshman year of college, I realize I have many years of growth ahead of me, but I can lead from where I am. I strive to be kind, brave and to be on the forefront of new technology and advancement in my chosen field of supply chain management. For over 6 years, I have been able to volunteer and serve my community in numerous ways. In addition, in high school, I was a member of the National Honor Society, Youth Action Committee, and Compassion Club. Through these organizations, I have volunteered on Veteran’s Day, been involved in the Rake & Run to rake leaves for the elderly or people unable to rake their lawns and can drives to raise money. I have also aided with coaching and helping volleyball camps through school and volleyball clubs. Volunteer work has allowed me to advance my skills, develop patience, and helped me grow as a friend. My goal is to be the best version of myself. In the future, I plan to continue to contribute back to the communities in which I live. I always try to lead from where I am and hope to be able to learn more about leadership and continue to grow my skill set. Throughout my volunteer work, I was able to meet new people and become more comfortable talking to people with diverse backgrounds. In addition, volunteering has helped me develop leadership skills and helped me feel like I am part of the community. These experiences have helped me become more self-confident and enrich my life. I have developed a passion to help people and have developed my supportive nature. In college, I plan to join clubs to continue to give back to the community and continue to nurture my leadership skills. I will attend Michigan State University in the fall and one specific cause I would like to be a part of is Spartans Serve. This program gives back in many ways, but to summarize, they make the world a better place through community service. To summarize, I was able to learn so much from the appreciation I get from the people I am helping. Young or old, I love getting to know people better and learning from them. I learned new ways to help younger volleyball players. Each person learns uniquely, and I was able to find new ways to connect. On the other end of the spectrum, I was able to talk with my elders and learn new ways to look at life and my future. Each opportunity has been a wonderful experience and I plan to continue this work into the future.
    Athletics Scholarship
    I used to hate when people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up because I never knew how to answer them. I know what I want to be now: I want to be kind. To me, integrity is the quality of a person being sincere, authentic, and truthful in appearance, speech, and action. Throughout my education and athletic career, I have built on mentorships, collaboration, and my ability to stay connected even in uncomfortable or otherwise toxic situations. I have learned how to establish ground rules for myself and never let negative people or situations bring me down. I rise above and prove my worth to the best of my ability. I know that not everyone is going to be my cheerleader, but having good morals, being humble, being kind and being confident in myself will allow me to continue my education and personal growth. My sport of choice is volleyball. I have played on many national club teams, as well as my high school varsity team for 3 years. I have learned the importance of cheering people on even if I am not the one in the game. I have learned to overcome negative obstacles and be a positive force on the court for my teammates. I have learned that hard work isn’t always noticed, but it’s rewarding. In my life, hard work has become a pivotal drive and allowed me to achieve stellar grades and achievements. In addition, my dream and goals are to be the best version of myself. Athletics has helped me build great leadership skills and taught me how to learn from mistakes and celebrate successes. I have had many examples of integrity and human dignity lead me over the years. My club coach was an inspiration to me. She was able to pull a group of strangers together into a team with great success. She was able to coach me in the way that I needed. When I was having a bad hitting day, she always knew the right things to say to pick me back up. I knew that was the type of person I wanted to be. I could help this team overcome adversity with positivity and hard work. Without athletics, I firmly believe that I would not be the leader and person I am today. I learned about teamwork, how to address concerns and build leadership and mentoring skills. Ultimately athletics and teams have thought me success, patience and integrity.
    Financial Literacy Importance Scholarship
    “Building personal financial capability early in life can give people a foundation for later-life financial well-being”. I was raised to make a solid financial plan to start my life. I have a Roth IRA and savings account. I maintain employment as much as possible throughout my teenage years and continue to do so. I have always made sure to make financially sound decisions from using coupons, finding sales, and planning for college and my future. In high school, I was able to take financial classes that taught me day to day budgeting in the real world. Many young people walk into their adulthood not prepared for the future. It can be a struggle when you are going out in the world for the first time and have independence. As a newly independent person people want to go out, enjoy themselves and sometimes that comes with credit card debt, vehicle debt and education debt. With all this debt, even with a good job can be debilitating. For me, there must give and take. I want to enjoy myself, but also work hard between applying for scholarships, working a job, and still living within my means, I hope it enables me to be able to graduate college without a mountain of debt. I realized young that I must plan for my future. Even though I am not yet 18, I still know that I want to retire someday. I try to put away a little bit of money to a Roth IRA and other investments. In addition, when I apply for student loans, I will research and explore many options to make sure that I am choosing the right loan. I have a credit card for convenience and to build my credit rating, but I pay off my credit card bill each month. Financial literacy is very important for the future of everyone. Making good decisions youth will allow for less stress and anxiety later in life. Through research I found out that 78% of adults live paycheck to paycheck. That can be very scary if an emergency came up, like their heater or car needs to be replaced, even scarier if there is a medical emergency. To build a better society, I would advocate for more classes on finance throughout school, starting in elementary school with basic information. In the end, I believe I am setting myself up for financial success and would like for others to have the same confidence.
    Jean Antoine Joas Scholarship
    Over the last few years, it has been increasingly apparent that supply chain management needs an overhaul. There are empty shelves in the grocery stores and high prices at the gas pumps. The importance of production flow to get goods and services to the public at a fair price is imperative. The supply chain management industry brings the basic life necessities, such as food and clothing, as well as life-saving medicines and healthcare products to individuals in need. I desire to use my creativity and relationship-building skills to find unique ways to provide fast and efficient shipping needs to customers. Throughout my education and athletic career, I have built on mentorships, collaboration and my ability to stay connected even in uncomfortable or otherwise toxic situations. I have learned how to establish ground rules for myself and never let negative people or situations bring me down. I rise above and prove my worth to the best of my ability. I know that not everyone is going to be my cheerleader, but having good morals, being humble, being kind and being confident in myself will allow me to continue my education and personal growth. As a leader and to promote excellence, I work to turn negatives into positives and learn from challenges and never let them affect my integrity. I always take responsibility for my mistakes. I make sure that I accept when I make a mistake and either fix it or apologize for it. I hold myself accountable and do better in the future. In addition, my dream and goals are to be the best version of myself. I want to contribute back to the communities in which I live. I also would like to use my budding leadership and teamwork skills to build the culture of the company or university I am in. Throughout my life, I have changed my focus and career goals, however one thing that remains the same is my focus on relationship building and the importance of a good culture in the workplace. Employee engagement is the focal point for many businesses and this career is no different. Creativity and focus will get me to the job I love, but I will be a building block for the company for everyone to love. Supply chain management is a career that will enable me to make strides in company culture while providing new ideas for better service to customers.
    Ray W Bausick Green Industry Memorial Scholarship
    Our environment is important for many reasons. It's important to have a healthy environment for sustainability, our culture, our families and our future. I desire to use my creativity and relationship-building skills to find unique ways to provide fast, efficient and eco-friendly resources to customers, which will then lead to a healthier environment. Throughout my education and athletic career, I have built on mentorships, collaboration and my ability to stay connected even in uncomfortable or otherwise toxic situations. I have learned how to establish ground rules for myself and never let negative people or situations bring me down. I rise above and prove my worth to the best of my ability. I know that not everyone is going to be my cheerleader, but having good morals, being humble, being kind and being confident in myself will allow me to continue my education and personal growth. My sport of choice is volleyball. I have played on many national club teams, as well as my high school Varsity team for 3 years. I have learned the importance of cheering people on even if I am not the one in the game. I have learned to overcome negative obstacles and be a positive force on the court for my teammates. I have learned that hard work isn’t always noticed, but it’s rewarding. In my life, hard work has become a pivotal drive and allowed me to achieve stellar grades and achievements. In addition, my dream and goals are to be the best version of myself. I want to contribute back to the communities and environment in which I live. I also would like to use my budding leadership and teamwork skills to build the culture of the company or university I am in. Throughout my life, I have changed my focus and career goals, however one thing that remains the same is my focus on relationship building and the importance of a good culture in the workplace. Employee engagement is the focal point for many businesses and this career is no different. Creativity and focus will get me to the job I love, but I will be a building block for the company for everyone to love. The building block to a long-lasting company is sustaining clean energy initiatives, better production of products and balancing these with maintaining a forward-thinking, creative business culture that will thrive in today's society. We need to look to the past and not make the same mistakes twice. Our future is in the hands of today's society.
    James A Cook Memorial Scholarship
    I did not have to think very long about the many people that inspire me. I am surrounded by many people who encourage and motivate me every day, but none inspire me like the legacy of my Great-Grandmother, Millie. About a year ago, she passed away. I didn’t know her very well beyond visiting from time to time and enjoying her cookies and pies during the holidays. However, over the past year, I have learned so much about the 92 years she spent teaching, mentoring, and helping people. My great-grandmother had 12 children and over 100 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She raised and built her children into caring, loving, and successful adults. She not only succeeded in that responsibility, but she also made time to help her church and her community. My great-grandmother raised her family, with the help of my great-grandfather, on a large farm in a very small town. Shortly after they sold the farm to their oldest son, my great-grandfather had a stroke and heart attack which left him needing assistance in many of his everyday needs. She not only handled this with grace, but she went out for the first time and got a job outside of the home. Her new job was so fitting for her beautiful nature, she was a social worker for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. While in this position, she made so many matches and changed lives forever through their relationships. Relationship building is so very important. My sport of choice is volleyball. I have played on many national club teams, as well as my high school Varsity team for 3 years. I have learned the importance of cheering people on even if I am not the one in the game. I have learned to overcome negative obstacles and be a positive force on the court for my teammates. I have learned that hard work isn’t always noticed, but it’s rewarding. In my life, hard work has become a pivotal drive and allowed me to achieve stellar grades and achievements. In addition, my dream and goals are to be the best version of myself. I want to contribute back to the communities in which I live. I also would like to use my budding leadership and teamwork skills to build the culture of the company or university I am in. Throughout my life, I have changed my focus and career goals, however one thing that remains the same is my focus on relationship building and the importance of a good culture in the workplace. Employee engagement is the focal point for many businesses and this career is no different. Creativity and focus will get me to the job I love, but I will be a building block for the community or company for everyone to love.
    Walking In Authority International Ministry Scholarship
    I did not have to think very long about the many people that inspire me. I am surrounded by many people who encourage and motivate me every day, but none inspire me like the legacy of my Great-Grandmother, Millie. About a year ago, she passed away. I didn’t know her very well beyond visiting from time to time and enjoying her cookies and pies during the holidays. However, over the past year, I have learned so much about the 92 years she spent teaching, mentoring, and helping people. My great-grandmother had 12 children and over 100 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She raised and built her children into caring, loving, and successful adults. She not only succeeded in that responsibility, but she also made time to help her church and her community. My great-grandmother raised her family, with the help of my great-grandfather, on a large farm in a very small town. Shortly after they sold the farm to their oldest son, my great-grandfather had a stroke and heart attack which left him needing assistance in many of his everyday needs. She not only handled this with grace, but she went out for the first time and got a job outside of the home. Her new job was so fitting for her beautiful nature, she was a social worker for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. While in this position, she made so many matches and changed lives forever through their relationships. My great-grandmother has impacted the world with her stunning smile and soft, attentive nature. When you ask anyone that knew her, you will hear the wonderful stories of a woman that is very understanding, a great listener and had a love for her family that was undeniable. As I learn more about the woman that was the matriarch of my family, and it has helped me explore more about my passions, my leadership, and my future. I have learned to always work hard. I have learned to smile at people as I walk by them on the street or in the hallway. I have learned to listen with the intent to understand, not just to respond. I have learned that each person has an impact on others. This has helped me build my dreams and goals to be the best version of myself. I want to contribute back to the communities in which I live. I also would like to use my budding leadership and teamwork skills to build the culture of the company or university I am in. Throughout my life, I have changed my focus and career goals, however one thing that remains the same is my focus on relationship building and the importance of a good culture in the workplace. Employee engagement is the focal point for many businesses and this career is no different. Creativity and focus will get me to the job I love, but I will be a building block for the company for everyone to love. Supply chain management is a career that will enable me to make strides in company culture while providing new ideas for better service to customers. Throughout my high school career, I have joined many clubs (National Honor Society, Youth Development Committee, Compassion Club, etc.) that encourages and supports community involvement and volunteering. I have grown as a person through these experiences and plan to continue to give back to the community and volunteer in college and into the future.
    Holt Scholarship
    Our society has become impatient. We want answers at our fingertips, or items on our doorstep quickly. Over the last few years, it has been increasingly apparent that supply chain management needs an overhaul due to the empty shelves we have all noticed at the grocery stores. The importance of production flow to get goods and services to the public at a fair price is imperative. I desire to use my creativity and relationship-building skills to find unique ways to provide fast and efficient shipping needs to customers. Throughout my education and athletic career, I have built on mentorships, collaboration and my ability to stay connected even in uncomfortable or otherwise toxic situations. I have learned how to establish ground rules for myself and never let negative people or situations bring me down. I rise above and prove my worth to the best of my ability. I know that not everyone is going to be my cheerleader, but having good morals, being humble, being kind and being confident in myself will allow me to continue my education and personal growth. My sport of choice is volleyball. I have played on many national club teams, as well as my high school Varsity team for 3 years. I have learned the importance of cheering people on even if I am not the one in the game. I have learned to overcome negative obstacles and be a positive force on the court for my teammates. I have learned that hard work isn’t always noticed, but it’s rewarding. In my life, hard work has become a pivotal drive and allowed me to achieve stellar grades and achievements. In addition, my dream and goals are to be the best version of myself. I want to contribute back to the communities in which I live. I also would like to use my budding leadership and teamwork skills to build the culture of the company or university I am in. Throughout my life, I have changed my focus and career goals, however one thing that remains the same is my focus on relationship building and the importance of a good culture in the workplace. Employee engagement is the focal point for many businesses and this career is no different. Creativity and focus will get me to the job I love, but I will be a building block for the company for everyone to love. Supply chain management is a career that will enable me to make strides in company culture while providing new ideas for better service to customers.
    Dr. William and Jo Sherwood Family Scholarship
    I did not have to think very long about the many people that inspire me. I am surrounded by many people who encourage and motivate me every day, but none inspire me like the legacy of my Great-Grandmother, Millie. About a year ago, she passed away. I didn’t know her very well beyond visiting from time to time and enjoying her cookies and pies at the holidays. However, over the past year I have learned so much about the 92 years she spent teaching, mentoring, and helping people. My great grandmother had 12 children and over 100 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She raised and built her children into caring, loving, and successful adults. She not only succeeded in that responsibility, but she also made time to help her church and her community. My great-grandmother raised her family, with the help of my great-grandfather, on a large farm in a very small town. Shortly after they sold the farm to their oldest son, my great-grandfather had a stroke and heart attack which left him needing assistance in many of his everyday needs. She not only handled this with grace, but she went out for the first time and got a job outside of the home. Her new job was so fitting for her beautiful nature, she was a social worker for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. While in this position, she made so many matches and changed lives forever through their relationships. My great-grandmother has impacted the world with her stunning smile and soft, attentive nature. When you ask anyone that knew her, you will hear the wonderful stories of a woman that is very understanding, a great listener and a love for her family that was undeniable. As I learn more about the woman that was the matriarch of my family, it has helped me explore more about my passions, my leadership, and my future. I have learned to always work hard. I have learned to smile at people as I walk by them on the street or in the hallway. I have learned to listen with the intent to understand, not just to respond. I have learned that each person has an impact on others. Therefore, I want to live my life with character, while assisting people, teaching people, and enjoying the ride. I want to hear that I made an impact on the world the way my great-grandmother did. I want to know that I am a leader that lifts people up and helps them succeed. I am motivated to live each day with grace and patience because of the character and service my great-grandmother portrayed.