High school has undoubtedly been one of the most transformative periods of my life thus far. It has set me on the path of self-discovery, personal growth, and learning. For me, the most significant high school educator along that journey has been Mrs. Julie Johnson, my history teacher. Mrs. Johnson saw more in me than I was able to see in myself at the time, and with her encouragement and high expectations, she has shaped me into the person that I am today. From the first year she arrived at the school my sophomore year, she expected no less than excellence of me, and I admit, that was not what I was demonstrating. Mrs. Johnson somehow knew that I was capable of so much more. When my grade in her U.S. History class was in severe jeopardy, she called a meeting with my parents, principal, and myself to discuss how important it was to put forth my best effort in her classroom, as well as in general. It was certainly a wakeup call for me. I had the honor of being accepted to one of the state's top public magnet high schools, and I was wasting an opportunity that many did not have. From that point on, I made my education a priority. My grade in her class turned around almost immediately. I went on to have Mrs. Johnson as my social studies teacher the following year. I learned that she contacted my mother to tell me how much I had grown from the previous school year, and how well I was doing in school. I found myself enjoying her classes, and actively engaging in discussions, and group projects. I truly enjoyed being in her classroom. Mrs. Johnson didn't stop there. This year, she started our school's Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society, and I was offered induction. I am now a member, and I knew that it was my efforts in her classroom that led her to consider me for this honor. As I prepare to graduate and move on to college, I think about Mrs. Johnson and the impact she’s had on my life. She didn’t just teach history she taught me to be reflective, become a stronger writer, and public speaker. True educators are able to see the potential in their students and bring out the best in them. I would like to think that is what Mrs. Johnson did for me. I will forever be grateful for her pushing and believing in me.

Athletics has facilitated innumerable life lessons that have shaped me into who I am today. It has played a profound role in my life and journey throughout my school years. Participation in sports has afforded me many opportunities to lead, encourage, be challenged, and persevere. The opportunity to participate in sports has shaped who I am as a son, sibling, student, and young man. Being a student-athlete has been one of my greatest challenges. I have been a magnet school student since middle school, attending both a public performing arts middle school, and a public science and technology high school. Athletics, while playing a major role in my journey, has not been easily accessible to me. Being a middle and high school student interested in athletics in my district requires much dedication, sacrifice, and drive because the magnet programs do not offer athletics. To participate in sports, I would have to try out and join the teams of my originally zoned schools. In middle school, when I played basketball, my parents were solely responsible for transporting me to tryouts, practices, and games. My parents sacrificed their time to ensure my full participation in the sport. My middle school was nearly 45 minutes away from my magnet school, but throughout all of the challenges, they made it happen for me. In my sophomore year of high school, I joined my zoned high school's cross-country team. My parents and other team parents of magnet students teamed up to transport us from the magnet high school to our zoned high school's practices and event meets. I earned the role of team captain that year, and through that role I learned the importance of leadership, motivating and encouraging others. The fact that the coaches entrusted me with that responsibility helped me to find my voice, and realize that what I say and do has the power to impact others. My experience on the cross-country team allowed me to be the first magnet high school student from my school to hold a record in cross-country. After cross-country season ended, I joined the track team, competing in the 800 and 400 meters. When I was encouraged to compete in these events, I often doubted myself. As I competed more regularly, I gained self-confidence and learned that my only competition, at that time, was me. Throughout the season I improved, even earning a few medals for my efforts. Today, I continue participating in athletics as a right-fielder on the school baseball team. Participation in athletics taught me the value of commitment and enduring challenges. The encouragement of my family, coaches, and teammates throughout the years has pushed me to excel in the classroom, and on the field. I continue to pay it forward as I dedicate that same responsibility, perseverance, and dedication to my college studies; being a positive role model for my younger brother, an honorable and god-fearing son and grandson, and one day soon, a forensic psychologist. It is my profound hope that I may take the many life lessons that I have learned to continue my education in college, and use the knowledge gained to help others.

As a student enrolled in a public magnet school, access to athletics has always been challenging. My school, New Century Technology High School, a STEM program, does not offer athletics, so students interested participating in sports join teams in the schools we are zoned for within the district. For many of us, this means that once the school day ends, we must travel by bus or personal vehicle to our originally zoned schools for try-outs, practices, and games, often joining in slightly later than the student athletes who are zoned for that school. An additional challenge as a student athlete has been creating balance between academics, athetics, and service organization obligations. As a magnet student in the biomedical strand of my high school program, I have to devote a great deal of time to my studies. I am also a member of my school's environmenal club, Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society, and black student union, so participation in meetings and service project opportunities is a pivotal part of membership. Being a magnet student in one of the state's highest performing schools is a privilege and honor that i do not take lightly. While it has been by no means easy, I am proud to say that this is one of my greatest accomplishments thus far. I am looking forward to graduating in May, and attending Alabama A&M University to study psychology with a concentration in criminal justice. My first student athlete experience began in my sophomore year. I became a member of the Columbia High School cross-country team. Each afternoon of the season, I boarded the bus and traveled from my school, to participate in practice and events. Because the district did not transport cross-country athletes to meets, the responsibility fell to my mother, coaches, and other parents to get me to meets. I was fortunate to be able to fully participate on the team, serving as that season's team captain. I was the first cross-country student athlete from my magnet program, so I also am the first record holder representing New Century Technology High School. When the cross-country season came to a close, I joined the indoor track team, and later the track & field teams. Much like cross-country, i traveled by bus to practices four days per week, and was transported to meets by my mom or coach to participate. I earned three bronze medals for track in the boys relays, 400 meters, and 800 meters in the Huntsville City Classic meet that season. I learned through all of these challenges, the value of hard work, perseverance, and most importantly the sacrifices that families make to support their children's dreams. I am forever grateful for that experience. In my junior and now senior year, I have been a member of Columbia High School's baseball team. The baseball team experience has by far been the most impactful. Baseball is a sport in which each member of the team plays a part, and their interdependence on the field is only effective when there is effective teamwork. Much like the other teams i have been a part of, I traveled from my school each afternoon to participate in practices. I was and continue to travel by car to games. This experience has by far been the best. Last season was the first season in the school's history that we made the playoffs, and we look forward to greater success in the upcoming season. Being a student athlete had posed many challenges for me, but through persistence and dedication, it has been worth the effort.

When considering adversity, you could say I have faced and overcome many obstacles in my life but none more significant than ME. Self-confidence and focus in my abilities is something I have always been a source of struggle for me. In the past, I have much preferred to fade into the background instead of seeking the spotlight. Fear of failure and judgement have often stifled me. At the end of 5th grade, I was auditioned and was ultimately accepted to attend a performing arts magnet school. I was excited and enjoyed being a part of the stident council, school choir, and musical performance troupes.Unfortunately, toward the this journey, the pandemic hit and I along with the entire U.S. we're impacted in unimaginable ways. The classroom was replaced with Zoom meetings and online media. My parents became my teachers, and I became somewhat of a hermit as we weren't permitted to engage socially outside of the home. When I was not online for classes or completing assignments, I was stuck at home either playing video games, watching television, or sleeping. When the pandemic ended, I was accepted to a top public magnet science and technology high school. I had aspirations of a future in a science or technology field, and looked forward to finding out which path I was most interested in pursuing. I was, in many ways, unaware of the challenges I would face re-acclimmating myself to traditional learning. I faced challenges academically, and found it difficult to involve myself in social and service organizations as I has pre-pandemic. Even when my mom and dad encouraged me to participate in activities such as sports, events, and school organizations, I avoided doing so. I found it difficult to regain that drive and motivation I once had, and ultimately my grades suffered. The moment of realization and clarity came for me when my principal, history teacher, and parents called a meeting with me to discuss what was going on, and their concerns. I realized that I was in a major slump, and I had to turn it around. The realization that everyone in that meeting cared, knew that I was capable of better, and wanted me to be successful ignited something in me. I became more studious, organized, and involved. I joined the cross country team, becoming team captain which helped me in realizing the importance of not only leadership, but setting the standard. I stopped procrastinating, and by the following school year, my history teacher who had such concern for me in the previous school year, told me and my parents how much growth and improvement i had demonstrated in a year's time. This year, I was inducted into Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society, which was an honor for me. To further push myself out of the void that the pandemic had me in, I joined the environmental club and have participated in public service such as clean up at our local botanical garden. I am also on the baseball team, for the second year in a row. My next goal is to get my first job to save up for some of the expenses associated with college. I have been accepted to the psychology program at Alabama A&M University, with plans to become a forensic psychologist. I have learned that while we all will face adversity in life, having a strong support system, setting clear goals, and immediate action have turned things around for the better.

I have developed a keen interest in studying the complexities of human behavior, more specifically within the context of crime and law. My ultimate career goal is to one day become a forensic psychologist, but the first step along this journey is to study psychology with a concentration in criminal justice in my undergraduate studies. This goal combines both my passion for understanding the human mind, and my desire to contribute to the field of criminal justice. Forensic psychology offers the opportunity to explore the psychological factors that contribute to criminal behavior, while at the same time using this knowledge to improve legal processes, support the justice system, and criminal rehabilitation. My interest in this field began in high school after taking a course in government. I once considered a career in law, but I wanted a career that merged both my interest in psychology and the law. As I explored my interests and discussed those interests with my school and potential college enrollment counselors, this field of study most piqued my interest. I learned that psychology plays a great role in understanding the criminal mind, such as determining one's motivations, assessing defendant's mental status, and one's competency to stand trial. Forensic psychologists play a profound role in helping shape fair and effective outcomes in criminal law cases. I would like nothing more than to pursue this field of study. I am excited to continue my academic journey in psychology. I am excited to engage in courses in both psychology and criminal justice so that I can develop greater understanding of theories, research, and practical applications within these fields. I am eager to embark in hands-on experiences such as internships and fieldwork, so that I can learn from professionals within the field of forensic psychology and criminal justice. In conclusion, pursing a degree in psychology with a concentration in criminal justice is the first step in pursing my goal of becoming a forensic psychologist. I am motivated and determined to achieve my goal in pursing this field of study. With this opportunity, I am confident that through this career path, I will make a difference in the world.