Throughout high school, I have been active in volunteer service, both in my church and my community. I have served as a youth baseball coach for four years, an altar server for six, and a member of my school's honor society for one before turning to traditional homeschooling. However, I have perhaps made no greater impact through community service than I did this winter. On December 9, 2024, my hometown of Ovilla, Texas, held a city council meeting to discuss a number of new ordinances, highlighted by the possibility of declaring itself a sanctuary city for the unborn. Since 2019, 69 cities in the United States had declared themselves sanctuary cities, effectively protecting their most vulnerable citizens within city limits, and our town was looking to be the 70th. I knew that this issue was a controversial one, filled with pain and emotion due to personal experiences, and that I needed to do the right thing, whatever the cost. Everyone at the meeting that day was unsure if the ordinance would pass, but knew we had to give it our best try. My mother, Tana, and two of my brothers, Dominic and Kolbe, spoke in the citizen's comments section of the meeting. We mostly focused on the responsibility that each and every one of us has to protect the unborn, no matter the repercussions. It was certainly intimidating, standing in front of all these people more than twice my age and looking the mayor straight in the eye, but I had nothing to worry about. For as Jesus says in the Gospel of John: "In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!" (John 16:33) Regardless of what people may think of us or how they may treat us, we have a duty to be a light to the world, and to always do what is right. We know that in the end, Jesus will defend those who stand up for his name. After several other citizens gave their testimony, it was time for the council to vote. You could feel the crowd waiting anxiously for their decision, but with a feeling of confidence and anticipation. In a momentous achievement, the city council voted 4-1 in favor of the ordinance, marking the greatest victory in the history of our little town. No matter what the big cities do, I can be at peace knowing that I live in a town that is committed to protecting the rights of mothers and the unborn. This experience really helped me shape the way I see leadership and service in the world. I am quickly approaching adulthood, and I know that I will need to take courage in many of my endeavors. Before long, I will have a family and a career, with many people depending on me. While things will always be difficult, my experience gave me a taste of what manhood will look like, and the confidence that I will have the strength to accomplish my goals.

Baseball has been a blessing in my life. It has helped me improve in many ways, from developing leadership qualities to dealing with adversity to simply keeping my body and mind in shape. I am forever grateful for all the great coaches who have helped me grow, I and have decided to pay it forward. My first volunteering opportunity in baseball came in 2021 at the local Miracle League. Miracle League is an organization that lets those with physical and cognitive disabilities enjoy our National Pastime. My job was to help the players run the bases, field the ball, and let them know what to do with it, with safety as the priority. It was an amazing experience for me, seeing the joy in their eyes, playing the same game that had brought so much joy to my life. Every time I volunteer, I can't help but wonder, who could not want a person like that? Although many people are afraid to care for children and adults with special needs, they are the happiest people I have ever seen. In 2022, I took on my first volunteer coaching role. It was a blast, and I enjoyed helping younger kids improve their skills and form as a team. I have coached five additional teams since, and while my efforts have been worthwhile, they have not always been easy. One team I coached, called the Roughriders, had a lot of issues. Many of the kids came from broken homes, and the team culture was deplorable. What was worse, the kids were 13 to 15 years old, a rebellious age for any boy, but especially toward a coach who is only three or four years older. While coaching this team was not fun, I knew the head coach needed help, and we ended up putting together a strong spring season. After the last game, I decided to leave to focus on my own school and sports, but every other assistant coach abandoned the team, leaving the head coach in the dust. Realizing his need for an assistant, I reluctantly returned for the fall. That season was even tougher, but ultimately ended triumphantly, as the Roughriders won the league championship. Paying it forward is a great thing to do because it takes sacrifice. It is easy to forget the team and think about yourself, but a true leader puts others first. Baseball has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me, and I want to do whatever I can to spread that joy with others.

Umpiring a baseball game is a job that takes a lot of guts. For one thing, it is a thankless job, as every call you make could be contested by at least one team. For another, it is not easy to bear the heat of the day and wear any foul tips that come flying back at you. While umpiring is a job that requires courage and character, that is precisely why it is worth pursuing. I have been umpiring ever since I was a young child, calling baseball games for my little brothers in the backyard. As the eldest, I could handle an entire game and (sometimes) settle disputes without issue. I had a fairly good eye, I thought, and an even better understanding of the game. As I grew older, I started learning the finer points of the game, gaining a deeper knowledge of the rules. I have watched countless games with my dad and my brothers and remember complaining to the television about the apparent ineptitude of that night's umpiring crew. My fervor for the game and its proper play was unmatched, and as soon as I was old enough, I knew I had to start umpiring organized games. I formally started umpiring in the fall of 2022, at the age of 16, for Southeast Arlington Little League. My best experience from that season happened in one of my brothers' coach pitch games. I was just getting to the ballpark after one of my high school games, still dressed in my uniform, when the league president came up to me and said, "We need an umpire for today's coach pitch game!" Apparently, the umpire who was scheduled for that game didn't show up, and the game was about to begin. Before I even had time to change, I rushed onto the field and called the whole game in my playing jersey. It was a relatively easy game to call, as my brother's team thoroughly beat their opponent, but it was still a fun and unique experience. My participation in umpiring thus far has helped me strengthen my character. Through umpiring I have learned to handle stress, keep adult tempers from flaring, assure good sportsmanship, and work with other members of the league. These skills will certainly help prepare me for adult life, as responsible habits form the basis of success in any environment, including a career and family life. After my one season in Southeast Arlington Little League, I left umpiring to focus on coaching, but my career as a referee is not finished. I am currently applying to rejoin SEALL's umpiring crew, which I plan to do during the summers when I am home from college. Calling a fair game is a skill of mine and there is always a demand for quality umpires, so I plan to stick with it well into my career as a side hustle. I love the game of baseball and can never be completely apart from it, even when my playing days are long past.

I would be lying if I told you my faith is the most important thing in my life, since nothing can be adequately compared with it. Instead, I would say my faith is the only thing that matters, and everything else I do builds toward spending eternity with God in Heaven. No matter the struggles of this earth, my life will be accomplished when I see Him face to face. I come from a very religious family, born and raised Catholic. From a young age, my parents taught me the basic truths of the faith - that God created me and sent his only Son to save the whole world from its sins. Since God loves us so much, we have a duty to love Him back and everyone He has made. In this age of widespread irreligion, people have a hard time associating with each other, always afraid that they will be judged in a negative light. Without God in their lives, it is difficult to find hope, joy, or purpose. I am committed to spreading the good news to those who still walk in darkness and help bring them to the light. While studies have shown that religious people are significantly happier than nonreligious people, that is not because of blind faith but is firmly grounded in reason. In fact, St. John Henry Newman, one of the greatest theologians of the 19th century, defined faith as "the reasoning of a religious mind." Everyone can come to a certain knowledge of a Creator (because science demonstrates that the universe had a beginning) or a "First Mover" (since, according to St. Thomas Aquinas, nothing begins to move without being set into motion by another), which the believer recognizes as God. Through the study of Theology and the Scriptures, one can come to a fuller understanding of this God's attributes and His immense love for us. Because knowledge of religion is so important, it must be prioritized. While it is easy to neglect one's religious duties amid financial or domestic turmoil, they must take first place in our lives, and our faithful attention to these practices will help in the struggles of everyday life. For, as the Bible assures us, "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) God holds the whole world in His hands, so He can certainly handle any problems we are going through if we are willing to offer them to Him. I plan to prioritize religion in my career by becoming an apologist. I have gained invaluable knowledge and encouragement from various Catholic websites (most notably Catholic Answers) and want to pay it forward by contributing to one of these websites myself. A tentative Theology major, I hope to create enlightening content using my knowledge of the faith, logically constructed mind, and polished writing skills. If I can make a career out of helping others find God in their lives, I can't think of anything better to do with my time. Obviously, becoming an apologist is not easy. I believe I have the skills for the job and the work ethic to refine them, but I still must be prepared to take on a different line of work, likely as a tradesman. No matter what career I end up pursuing, I can offer my daily routines as a prayer and my hard work as a sacrifice for my family, providing a good example to my children of a father who loves them and is willing to work hard for their sake.

Writing is a passion of mine. Since a young age, I have expressed my thoughts and feelings through the written word, where they take on a certain permanence. In the past five years, I have written dozens of essays (self-assigned and for school), started eighteen blogs, and am currently working on my first book, with several ideas for subsequent works. Needless to say, writing is a sort of love language for me, and a skill that is largely unappreciated today. Throughout history, many of the world's greatest thinkers have shared their brilliance through the written word. While everyone stresses the importance of reading, there can be nothing to read without devoted authors. The great works of Homer, Aesop, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Virgil, Paul the Apostle, Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas, Shakespeare, Dickens, and Tolkien were all communicated through writing, and their insight has changed the world. Through writing, these intellectual giants had the opportunity to spread their knowledge with the world, which has preserved them for generations. I hope to be the next name on that illustrious list. While I am in college, I plan to refine my writing skills. I plan to study very in-depth theology and philosophy, which requires tactful rhetoric and precise vocabulary to be able to articulate. While this will be an intense test of my skills, I believe I am up to the task, as my experience and skill with the pen should help me excel in these classes. Whenever I do make a mistake, however, I am always open to correction. There is always value in reviewing and editing a piece of writing, and sometimes another set of eyes is all it takes to turn a good paper into a great one. After four years of steady improvement, I plan to follow in my father's footsteps and become a professional writer (hopefully an apologist), devoting my career to spreading knowledge through the written word. In addition to the writing I will do for my classes, I plan to cover sports as well. In addition to any blogging I may continue, I intend to apply for a sportswriting job with a company called Fansided, which publishes hundreds of articles every day. I enjoy sports, particularly baseball, very much, and am very acquainted with the various players and teams within the league. Taking on this job would not only earn a little extra money, but would also help me practice a different kind of writing for a different audience. Writing is a worthy and noble pursuit. Without great writers, our world would be lacking for knowledge. I hope to hone my writing skills and become a beacon of light to all who read my works.

My field of interest is theology. I understand that God is an infinite Being and although He has revealed Himself to us, He is not readily apparent to our limited physical senses. However, He is not merely an abstract philosophical concept about which we can only speculate; He is the truest reality, and we can know many things about Him with certainty. Those who believe in Him do not abandon reason for faith; rather, as St. John Henry Newman claimed, faith is the reasoning of a religious mind. Everyone can come to a certain knowledge of a Creator (because science demonstrates that the universe had a beginning) or a "First Mover" (since, according to St. Thomas Aquinas, nothing begins to move without being set into motion by another), but our understanding of His attributes and His love for us depends on the knowledge of the believer, which can be informed through the study and practice of theology. Because God created me and continually holds me in existence, I understand that I owe Him a great debt, and because He sent His only beloved Son to suffer and die to save us from our sins, that debt is even greater, so I aspire to imitate this perfect love by letting the whole world know of His sacrifice. The number of nonreligious people has never been higher than it is today (some nine times more than even the 1970s), and, uncoincidentally, our society has never been more lonely, depressed, or despondent. By studying advanced theology for four years, I plan to equip myself with the answers to whatever questions people may ask about God, or spirituality, or their life's ultimate purpose. My dream job is to be an apologist. I have gained invaluable knowledge and encouragement from numerous Catholic websites, and I hope to contribute to such a website with my knowledge of the Faith, logically constructed mind, and polished writing skills. I believe that I can be an asset in the fight against the ultimate restlessness, dissatisfaction, and sadness felt by so many of us today, particularly those who are not religious. While I would love to become an apologist, I realize that it will not be easy to accomplish this goal. The study of theology requires vigorous study and acute knowledge of the eternal truths. Not only will my studies be challenging, but any good college nowadays is also very expensive, and I will have to work very hard to avoid serious debt. However, I am willing to try, since everything truly worth pursuing is difficult, but attainable. Winning this scholarship would make a difference in my education and financial situation going forward and would help me become the beacon of light I know I can be.

Early this past summer, my life wasn't really working out. I was getting good grades in school and doing well in sports, but I simply wasn't happy. I was trying to control everything that went on in my life, and was getting very frustrated when things didn't work out. In June, I decided to let go of my illusion of control and accept whatever happened in life - and things have never been the same since. My second chance started at Christendom College's Best Week Ever summer program. Heading into the week, I didn't know what to expect or if I would have a good time, but I decided to give it a shot. I have never made a more impactful decision in my life. Almost immediately, I felt a sense of peace. I felt safe around the other campers and was comfortable pushing myself far past my comfort zone. That week, I made firm progress in my spiritual life, giving me a deep sense of relief and purpose, but also a passion for much more: I wanted to live that way forever. The Best Week Ever taught me that the best things in life are difficult to pursue, but not impossible, and that one is always better off striving for them than not taking the leap and missing out. The catalyst for my change was a special friend I met at Christendom. She gave me the perfect example of someone whose spirituality and lease on life made her extremely happy. I saw her joy and desired it for myself. From the very start of the week, I made an effort to get to know her and ended up making sacrifices for her that I had never made for anyone else before. I felt selfless and free, and started experiencing the joy of pure kindness. Throughout the week she helped me build my confidence, offering advice, support, and prayers, and with her help I overcame difficulties that had previously given me much trouble. I knew that I had to pursue her, and we're still together today, lifting each other up when we're down and providing support in difficult moments. No matter where you are in life, there is always a chance to start again. I was in a low place at the beginning of the summer, and now I have never felt more alive. I feel like I can take on the hardest of challenges and overcome them. Sometimes all it takes is a little push.

I have a plan for the next few years of my life that I think is worth undertaking. It will take hard work and sacrifice, to be sure, but everything worth pursuing in life is difficult but attainable. The next step on my journey is to attend college. I was fortunate enough to earn many merit-based scholarships from Christendom College, where I have been accepted and plan to attend, but they still project me to pay $23,650 per year, not counting an additional $2,500 fee during my junior year. This amounts to a total of $93,100 for the course of my term. This is more money than I have, so I will need to work hard to be able to afford my education. I have been applying to countless scholarships in the hopes that I will get lucky on one of them, which should shave a little bit off the cost. I have also been advertising my lawn care services to my neighbors in the hopes of making a couple hundred extra dollars. I am also planning to take a job as an umpire at the little league that my brothers play for, hopefully making a couple hundred more dollars. Since I currently do not have a car and both of my parents work, I cannot work much during the school year, but when the school my dad teaches at lets out for the summer, I plan to purchase car insurance (around $350 per month) and work full-time at a Chick-fil-A. The location I will apply for pays an average of $12.55 per hour for my desired position, so I would expect to make approximately $6,000 over the summer, accounting for gasoline and car insurance. During college, I plan to take on as many on-campus jobs as I can handle, which should earn me about $6,000 per year, and potentially take on a part-time writing job with a sports company, which should earn me around $2,000 annually. On my summer breaks, I would plan to return to Chick-fil-a, making around $6,000 a summer, while still applying for scholarships and occasionally umpiring a youth baseball game. Not counting what I might win from scholarships, I would project myself to earn about $24,000 during my time in college. My goal is to get married and start a family after I graduate from Christendom. In order to do that, I will need to have some liquid assets right away. Christendom College offers a $5,500 annual loan to its students, and I plan to accept it, which would give me $22,000 that I could use to sustain my family while my career gets off the ground. While I plan to become an apologist and work from home, I realize that the apologetics business is a difficult one to get into, and may need to enter a trade program, which would cost approximately $8,000, making the $22,000 in student loans all the more necessary. Being an athlete and hoping to play in college, I would likely be qualified as a batting instructor, which typically costs around $50 for a one-hour session, which could come in handy on occasion. I could also continue to umpire to make an extra $50 per game every now and again. If I found a steady job in either apologetics or the trades and made a little extra from baseball, things would probably work out, but it won't be easy. There are many steps I need to take before that becomes a reality, and winning this scholarship would certainly make a difference to me.