My favorite athlete to watch for Team USA is Micah Christenson. Micah Christenson on the USA Men's Volleyball National Team is a great role model to me as a volleyball player. He shows kindness and confidence as he competes for Team USA and during his professional season. While his skill is something that catches the eye, he shows even greater personality and kindness to all of his fans. While he has been a player that I have idolized from a very young age, he always is a man who is willing to meet and even talk to his fans. When Team USA was competing in the Volleyball National League in Ottawa, Canada, I had the pleasure of being able to meet and even talk with Micah for a few minutes after the game. When I met him, he was just a normal guy with a wife and kids who just loved playing volleyball. The second year I was in Ottawa, he saw me in warmups and recognized me and came over to take a photo after the game. To this day, it is one of my greatest memories of volleyball. I am on my way to playing Division 1 volleyball, and I can only hope to have the same athletic and personal success that Micah has had. While he is a fantastic player, he is an even better role model to his fans, whether it is his effort and hard work or his composure on the court. Tactically, I most admire Micah for his court presence. He is not the largest nor strongest player on the court, but he is the smartest. He uses precision and tempo to dictate the movements of the entire team on the court. As well his experience also provides a calm and confident presence for the rest of the team on the court. He always has his goals set on the end in mind and works to peak at the correct times. Fans saw that with Team USA from the Volleyball Nations League in 2023 to the Olympic Qualifiers later that fall, peaking at the Olympics, where they earned a bronze medal. Micah Christenson's style of play is admirable for fans and other players with similar goals to his. He plays freely and stress-free and looks to involve all of his team to ensure greater overall success. He recognizes that volleyball is a team sport and that he can use each of his teammates properly offensively to ensure greater overall success.

The lessons of hard work, maturity, gratitude, responsibility, and accountability that I have learned as a high school student athlete will give me the necessary skills for success in the future. I love volleyball, and after my collegiate career, I desire to take my talents as far as possible in the sport including professional competition and coaching. I will use these principles to get me to the top. I will use these principles to care for my teammates or players. In college, I plan on majoring in biology with a pre-veterinary track. At a college volleyball camp this summer, the head coach described how he is recruiting young men, not boys, he expects recruits to look, act, and be mature throughout all aspects of their life. He said that college volleyball is not forever, but the men that you became and the way you grew during your time is. My varsity volleyball coach, Coach Parks taught us to employ player-to-player or player-to-coach contact, by taking responsibility and initiative in communication skills. These lessons of respect also bring along gratitude in the face of adversity. I have had type 1 diabetes since I was 10 years old. During the first six months, we had to calculate the amount of insulin by hand and administer at least 5 insulin shots a day, as well as poke my finger 10-12 times per day. Now I use a continuous glucose monitor and insulin pump. When I eat, I have to enter the carbs to match with insulin. My continuous glucose monitor (typically on my arm) transmits my current blood sugar to my iphone every 5 minutes, and syncs to my Apple Watch. If I start to drop I get a Gatorade or snack. If my watch indicates that I am too high, I’ll have to give myself more insulin. If I have a sports practice/match/camp coming up, a hour ahead of time I have to turn on “Activity Mode” to account for reduced insulin needs while competing. I carry a knapsack with diabetic supplies, snacks, gatorade, and rescue glucagon at all times. My parents can remotely monitor too but I manage it myself now that I’m almost 18. Type 1 diabetes is a constant balancing act. If my blood sugar drops too low I can have a seizure and die. If it goes too high it can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and or in the long term lose vision and organs. Overnights are challenging. I have alarms that go off but after a particularly physical day, my body is recovering and uses more glucose and I might drop low in the night. Despite this, I am a signed, committed division1 athlete. I’ve earned all-county, regional and national recognition, but I have to work harder to regulate my blood sugar and eat right in order to be focused on competing at the next level. I have figured out how to develop good habits with strength and conditioning in the weight room, how to participate at a highly competitive national level in volleyball, and keep my blood sugar stable. Well, I’ve sort of figured it out. Every single day is a balancing act and then things like illness, altitude, growth spurts, surprise foods, and other factors get in the way and I have to work through those too. It is a chronic disease but I’m dedicated to not letting it be the reason I can’t succeed. And through this all I am grateful to my family support system and to the coaches who never let diabetes be an excuse or a limitation.

When I was ten years old, my life changed quickly. After roughly a week of feeling ill, I went to the hospital after waking up breathing heavily. Within five minutes I was diagnosed with diabetes. I did not understand the gravity of the situation yet. That day my life was changed forever as I was diagnosed with a chronic condition that requires constant effort and attention. When I was in the hospital, our first question was if I could participate in sports again and how my life would work. My parents helped me learn the lesson of responsibility by contacting the school nurse and making sure we all communicated. I learned to pack the night before school with snacks, supplies, and insulin. When I made my return to volleyball, my coach asked us what she needed to know about how we were all going to handle my diabetes. My mom helped a lot in the beginning but as I grew older the lesson of responsibility stuck with me as I started handling it more and more independently. But I still do text her and my father to make them feel that I am all right. My parents used to wake me up in the night to make sure that I ate something when my blood glucose was low. Now I wake up to those alarms and handle them on my own. Since diabetes is a chronic illness without a known cure, all I can do is learn how to handle it as best I can. Through meticulous planning using a calendar and routine, I can effectively keep myself healthy and alive in my efforts for academic and athletic success. It has shaped me as a person by forcing me to mature at a greater rate. Since the age of ten, I was forced to be responsible for my life and well-being. The concept of responsibility that my parents helped establish in me which was catalyzed by diabetes has affected the way that I conduct myself in life, from the classroom to the court. And in greater hindsight, it enhances the gratitude that I have for my family. Not just my parents are my support system in handling diabetes, but my siblings as well. Whenever my blood glucose goes too low, my whole family gets a notification on their phones. I text in the group chat saying that I am all right. I have signed to play NCAA Division 1 Volleyball next year at Sacred Heart University while studying biology and sports management. I want to pursue two career paths: medical/pre-veterinary or professional/collegiate sports. Less than 2% of high school athletes have the opportunity to continue to compete at this division 1 level. I imagine the percentage of athletes with type 1 diabetes is even less. I spend hours daily in the weight room, focusing on strength and conditioning. I play both high school volleyball and indoor year round national level competitive club volleyball. I squeeze in some beach volleyball, help coach our younger teams, and recently have become a certified official. I am also a lifeguard. All of those things are challenging enough on their own, but when I also have to watch my blood sugar at all times, it’s a severe complication that I need to handle, and maybe one day overcome if the science catches up. I’m grateful for the opportunity but recognize how I could not have gotten to this place alone. My coaches that never let diabetes be an obstacle or an excuse plus my family and friends have helped.

When I was ten years old, my life changed quickly. After roughly a week of feeling ill, I went to the hospital after waking up breathing heavily. Within five minutes I was diagnosed with diabetes. I did not understand the gravity of the situation like my mom did. That day my life was changed forever as I was diagnosed with a chronic condition that requires constant effort and attention. When I was in the hospital, our first question was if I could participate in sports again and how my life would work. When I got home my parents helped me learn the lesson of responsibility regarding my condition by contacting the school nurse and making sure we all communicated. I learned to pack the night before school with snacks, supplies, and insulin. When I made my return to volleyball, my coach asked us what she needed to know about how we were all going to handle my diabetes. My mom helped a lot in the beginning but as I grew older the lesson of responsibility stuck with me as I started handling it more and more independently. But I still do text her and my father to this day to make them feel that I am all right. My parents used to wake me up in the night to make sure that I ate something when my blood glucose was low. As I got older I began to wake up to those alarms and handle them on my own. Since diabetes is a chronic illness without a known cure, all I can do is learn how to handle it as best I can. Through meticulous planning using a calendar and routine, I can effectively keep myself healthy and alive in my efforts for academic and athletic success. It has shaped me as a person by forcing me to mature at a greater rate. Since the age of ten, I was forced to be responsible for my life and well-being. The concept of responsibility that my parents helped establish in me which was catalyzed by diabetes has affected the way that I conduct myself in life, from the classroom to the court. And in greater hindsight, it enhances the gratitude that I have for my family. Not just my parents are my support system in handling diabetes, but my siblings as well. Whenever my blood glucose goes too low, my whole family gets a notification on their phones. I text in the group chat saying that I am all right. I have signed to play NCAA Division 1 Volleyball next year at Sacred Heart University. Less than 2% of high school athletes have the opportunity to continue to compete at this division 1 level. I imagine the percentage of athletes with type 1 diabetes is even less. I spend hours daily in the weight room, focusing on strength and conditioning. I play both high school volleyball and indoor year round national level competitive club volleyball. I squeeze in some beach volleyball, help coach our younger teams, and recently have become a certified official. I am also a lifeguard. All of those things are challenging enough on their own, but when I also have to watch my blood sugar at all times, it’s a severe complication that I need to handle, and maybe one day overcome if the science catches up. I’m grateful for the opportunity but recognize how I could not have gotten to this place alone. My coaches that never let diabetes be an obstacle or an excuse plus my family and friends have helped.

Being a certified USA Volleyball official has given me a new perspective towards; leadership, responsibility, and fairness. It has enhanced my character, teaching me resilience, confidence, and making clear and decisive decisions under pressure. Looking forward, I seek to continue to grow as a referee and person, utilizing these skills to make a meaningful impact in volleyball and further. One of my favorite memories as a referee took place during a significant volleyball game. The score was close in the third set, and I made a net call that was not seen by the crowd, but despite any reactions; by the crowd, the team it was against, I was strong and confident in my call. After the match, a coach from the losing team commended me for the composure that I kept during the game and complimented me on how fair and high quality my reffing was. This specific moment reaffirms my joy for officiating every day, specifically through upholding the integrity of the sport. Refereeing has given me focus on how I can become a more clear and decisive thinking individual in the face of adversity while remaining composed. Making quick, decisive, and fair decisions as a referee has benefitted me as well in other areas of my life such as academic and leadership roles. Managing games has also improved my communication skills, by enhancing my handling of difficult conversations and moments in life with respect and authority. Enforcing rules impartially has reinforced my commitment to integrity, a principle that extends in the context of my life far beyond sports. Looking towards the future, I plan on continuing to officiate in the future and possibly at the collegiate level someday. I seek to refine my skills, gain higher-level certifications, and mentor new referees. Additionally, I aspire to improve my knowledge of the game, enhance my decision-making abilities, and build enduring relationships with fellow officials. I as well hope to promote respect for and towards officials, and the importance of playing fairly. As the youngest referee in our region, I've also come to appreciate the senior referees. Their experience and witty anecdotes have taught me a lot. Being a referee has emphasized qualities that will help me in all facets of my life. The lessons of confidence, resilience, and fairness will reside in me for a long time, aiding in making split-second decisions on the court or facing challenges in my life, whether in academic pursuits or professional contexts. Through these experiences, I have learned the importance of responsibility, effective communication, and staying composed under pressure. These skills not only define my approach to refereeing but also influence how I tackle various situations, ensuring I am prepared for whatever comes my way.

The lessons of hard work, maturity, gratitude, responsibility, and accountability that I have learned throughout high school will give me the necessary skills for success in the future. I love volleyball, and after my collegiate career, I desire to take my talents as far as possible in the sport including professional competition and coaching. I will use these principles to get me to the top. I will use these principles to care for my teammates or players. In college, I plan on majoring in biology with a pre-veterinary track. At a college volleyball camp this summer, the head coach described how he is recruiting young men, not boys, he expects recruits to look, act, and be mature throughout all aspects of their life. He said that college volleyball is not forever, but the men that you became and the way you grew during your time is. My varsity volleyball coach, Coach Parks taught us to employ player-to-player or player-to-coach contact, by taking responsibility and initiative in communication skills. These lessons of respect also bring along gratitude in the face of adversity. I have had type 1 diabetes since I was 10 years old. During the first six months, we had to calculate the amount of insulin by hand and administer at least 5 insulin shots a day, as well as poke my finger 10-12 times per day. Now I am able to use a continuous glucose monitor and insulin pump. When I eat, I have to enter the carbs to match with insulin. My continuous glucose monitor (typically on my arm) transmits my current blood sugar to my iphone every 5 minutes, and syncs to my Apple Watch. If I start to drop I get a Gatorade or snack. If my watch indicates that I am too high, I’ll have to give myself more insulin. If I have a sports practice/match/camp coming up, a hour ahead of time I have to turn on “Activity Mode” to account for reduced insulin needs while competing. I carry a knapsack with diabetic supplies, snacks, gatorade, and rescue glucagon at all times. My parents can remotely monitor too but I manage it myself now that I’m almost 18. Type 1 diabetes is a constant balancing act. If my blood sugar drops too low I can have a seizure and die. If it goes too high it can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and or in the long term lose vision and organs. Overnights are challenging. I have alarms that go off but after a particularly physical day, my body is recovering and uses more glucose and I might drop low in the night. Despite this, I am a signed, committed division 1 athlete. I’ve earned all-county,regional and national recognition, but I have to work harder to regulate my blood sugar and eat right in order to be focused on competing at the next level. I have figured out how to develop good habits with strength and conditioning in the weight room, how to participate at a highly competitive national level in volleyball, and keep my blood sugar stable. Well, I’ve sort of figured it out. Every single day is a balancing act and then things like illness, altitude, growth spurts, surprise foods, and other factors get in the way and I have to work through those too. It is a chronic disease but I’m dedicated to not letting it be the reason I can’t succeed. And through this all I am grateful to my family support system and to the coaches who never let diabetes be an excuse or a limitation.

I am a high school senior and will be playing Division 1 Men's Volleyball at Sacred Heart University next year while studying both biology and sports management. I spend a great deal of time in the volleyball community. I have been playing competitively for nine years both in the club system and in high school. In recent years I've also become an assistant coach for our younger players as well as a certified official. I also lifeguard in the summers, am very consistent with strength and conditioning, and try to be a good friend. During the school year I've worked with our local food pantry, did afterschool basketball with a children's group home, and volunteer with diabetes advocacy programs. The lessons of hard work, maturity, gratitude, responsibility and accountability that I have learned throughout my high school experience will give me the necessary skills to succeed in my desired field in the future. I love the game of volleyball very much, and after my collegiate career, I desire to take my talents as far as I can in the sport, whether it is on a professional stage, or even a coaching career. In college, I plan on majoring in Biology with a pre-veterinary track as well as minoring in sports management. A scholarship would help me achieve my goals of being a good teammate and athlete while preparing for a successful future. When I attended a college men's volleyball camp last summer, the head coach shared some key principles he has for when recruiting mature players. He is recruiting young men, not boys, he expects recruits to look, act, and be mature throughout all aspects of their life. He made key points saying that college volleyball is not forever, but the men that you became and the way you grew during your time is. These lessons of respect also bring along plenty of gratitude. My parents, friends, and community are the greatest support systems I can ever ask for. When I was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes when I was 10, my community was the greatest support system for helping me. My parents and I learned everything we possibly could about the disease, and what it meant for my life. As a result, I was forced to learn the lesson of responsibility. This has translated into turning in my schoolwork on time with high quality, which will translate with my work ethic into my collegiate career. As well, as being responsible for showing up to practice, showing up to games, lifting, and film on time. And taking responsibility for myself and helping others. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship.

I am a senior student athlete at McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester, NY and will be attending Sacred Heart University next year studying biology and health sciences. I'm undecided about my career path but want to consider health care, pre-veterinary or collegiate coaching. I am grateful to have the opportunity to play NCAA Division 1 Mens Volleyball in college despite the challenges that a chronic disease, Type 1 Diabetes (juvenile) has presented me since age 10. I have to measure all carbs that I eat and manage my insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor in order to stay alive. My parents tackled the life-changing challenge early and have gradually released that responsibility to me. There isn't a single minute of my day when I don't have to be aware of exactly where my blood sugar number is and plan on how to handle each everyday activity. As a result, I was forced to learn the lesson of responsibility. This has translated into turning in my schoolwork on time with high quality, which will translate with my work ethic into my collegiate career. As well, as being responsible for showing up to practice, showing up to games, lifting, and film on time. And taking responsibility for myself and helping others. This as well will translate into my desired career, because when I am impassioned to do something, I want to do it to the best of my ability. Even if I do not want to do it, I will. Because it is the right thing to do, and usually the hardest things are the best for growth in life. Overall the lessons of hard work that have been instilled in me during my high school athletic career will set me up to face any future problems directly, whether that is in the volleyball community or the medical community. I am organized, optimistic, and conscientious. I try to be an example for younger student athletes, both with diabetes and not. I have helped coach 12U and 14U players. I'm a certified USA Volleyball official. I have done over 200 hours of community service throughout high school in numerous areas. I am interested in the medical and health sciences field, either human or veterinary. I can also see myself working with athletes and fostering a program of inclusivity and challenge. Overall I plan on making a positive impact on the world through leading by example. Showing that the way to reach your goals is through only hard-work and determination while remaining positive and progressive.