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This is a photo of a soccer team I was on in elementary school. Before I found cheer, I was very into soccer. All my older brothers played soccer, so I figured I had to as well. My dad coached this team which he had never done before so this team will always stand out to me. I learned a lot about teamwork on this team and how you’re only as strong as your weakest link. My dad instilled that in me, and I think it carried over into my academics as well. If I were ever in group projects, I would always help out the person struggling because I knew if they didn’t get it, it was a reflection on me as well. This sport and what I learned through it made me the team player I am today and why I work so well in group aspects.

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I already mentioned how Junior Year was extremely pivotal for me but so was my Senior Year of high school. Senior year and the summer after it were probably some of the best times of my life. I learned so much about who I was and what meant the most to me. I learned it’s okay to let things go and if they are meant for you, they will always come back. I learned how much friendship mattered to me and how that was something I will always hold close to my heart. I learned to appreciate school a lot more senior year and appreciate all my teachers and the classroom setting. I had always wished away the time and now that it was almost over I wanted it back so badly.

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There aren’t even words to describe how much my mom means to me. She is my best friend in the entire world and my biggest inspiration. My parents got divorced when I was in 4th grade and my mom handled the situation with so much grace that from that moment on, I can remember how badly I wanted to be just like her. She has taught me hard work and determination will get you far and she’s the biggest reason I’m in graduate school today. I am the person I am all because of this woman and I honestly don’t know what I would do without her. She has always been very involved in my schooling and making sure I am doing well. I think why I have always done so well in school is because I wanted to make her proud and impress her. She is such a huge part of my journey and means so much to me!

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I took a public speaking class Junior year of high school and it’s when I realized how much I enjoyed public speaking and communications. It was a lot of the reason I decided to study communications in college. I have always enjoyed public speaking, but I didn’t realize that I was actually pretty good at it until I took this class. I guess I assumed everyone was good at it, but I was extremely mistaken. I would watch other students go up to speak and be so nervous and not able to get their points across. I think I love talking in general and I love being heard so public speaking is something I enjoy very much.

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This is a picture of my grandma and I at my 8th grade graduation. She has always been one of my biggest supporters and taught me so much. She never went to college and became a mother very young. She would tell me about her childhood and the way she grew up and it opened my eyes and made me realize that not everyone was raised just like me. I was young and naïve and didn’t know any better but my grandma helped me get out of my little bubble and see the world differently.

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Ryan is my little brother, and he has definitely been a huge impact on my life and made me who I am today. He taught me a lot of the leadership and parenting type skills that I have carried with me until today. With two working parents and my older brothers always out doing something, Ryan and I were home alone together often. I had to take care of him and help him with his homework while still getting all of my stuff done. I think my good time management skills have a lot to do with this time in my life.

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Cheer was something I got into at a very young age and was always very passionate about it. I really loved the team aspect of cheer and how without every single person doing their part the routine wouldn't work. Through cheer I learned how much I love working with others and being a part of a team. I learned so many amazing leadership skills throughout my years in cheer that I will take with me my entire life.

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Sports were something that I became passionate about at a fairly young age. It wasn't just playing them but I loved to watched them. I loved everything about the atmosphere brought about by sports. I would sit for hours with my dad and brothers watching endless sports game and cheering for whoever they liked. It carried on throughout my entire life and it's a huge reason I am wanting to go into a field of athletics for my career.

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When I was in 4th grade my uncle passed away and it changed my life forever. He was a part of SDPD and killed in the line of duty. I can remember how close it brought my family together even through such a tragic time. Uncle Jerry was someone who I remember loving life and living it to his fullest. I can’t remember too much about him, but I can remember how he made me feel and that was happy. He always had a smile on his and wanted other around him to be happy too. Him passing away is part of the reason I live my life the way I do and enjoy every single second. I also have a love for the Police Force because of all he did for that department and risked his life for them.

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This plane signifies the move I made across the U.S. A lot of people don't know this about me but I was technically born in Virginia. It's easier for me to say I was born and raised in San Diego because I was so young when I moved here. I think this move changed my perspective on a lot because of how different the two places are. I was opened up to an entire different culture and was shocked when I first got to California. I think this move made me more adaptable and able to make friends pretty easily.

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When I was in fifth grade, I went on a family vacation to Puerto Rico. This was the first vacation I had ever been on that was outside of the United States. I remember being so excited to go and couldn’t wait to get there. This trip means a lot to me and helped shape me into who I am today. I learned about my love for traveling and how big this world really is. I remember I used to be stuck in such a bubble and didn’t think there was much more to life than what I was doing. After this trip and seeing a different way of life and new people I was changed. I can remember going back to school after the trip and telling all my friends how cool it was in Puerto Rico and they had no interest in what I was saying. This trip set off the love of travel, knowledge, food, etc. and I have been hooked ever since.

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When I was in middle school my brother joined the Marines. This had a huge impact on my family and I. I remember researching and trying to learn everything about the Marines I could possibly know. I was so scared because I didn't know if he would make it back. This impacted who I was and how I saw the world tremendously. I started to become more interested in what was happening overseas because I knew it could impact my brother and what he was doing.

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Mrs. V is a teacher I had in 8th grade who really changed my way of thinking and how I felt about learning. I was always a decent student but can remember not being very passionate about it. I would just go through the motions and did well because my parents wanted me too. When I got into Mrs. V’s class though she made me excited to learn and excited about the possibilities of college even though I was only in 8th grade. I remember the decorations in her room were all related to going to college and doing well now so that we could set ourselves up for the future. This was something that impacted who I am and how I felt about school going forward. I realized how badly I wanted to go to college and how I actually enjoyed learning and it wasn’t always boring.

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The beach is a very special place in my heart and always will be! Every time I am at the beach, I feel a sense of peace and relief no matter what is going on in my life. Growing up my family used to go on vacations to the Outer Banks and I believe that is where my love for the beach really started. It was always such a fun week filled with family and friends and I never wanted it to end. Throughout this time, I created a really special bond with the beach, and it has continued in my life until now. It reminds me to slow down and take a deep breath because everything is going to be okay. When I look at the huge ocean, I remember just how vast this world is and how many adventures and opportunities await.

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Junior Year of high school was definitely one of my favorite school years. I had finally found my group of friends and felt like I really fit in. I was the captain on the cheer team this year and it was one of the most rewarding, fun experiences of my life. I realized how much I really do like being in a leadership position and taking charge of situations. I had a really special bond with my team, and it was honestly like nothing I have ever experienced before. Junior year I started getting really serious about college and my education which was a super cool feeling because I remember being so excited for college. I had never really thought about it too hard before junior year, so it was awesome having something to work towards. Junior year helped shaped me into the women I am, and I am very grateful for the people I met and the lessons I learned.