Big Dreams for 2016 by Stephanie

Big Dreams for 2016 by Stephanie - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

Close your eyes and imagine, a world where every goal you set got reached. At the start of every year the cultural expectation of creating and reaching New Year's Resolutions lingers in the back of all of our minds. However, every year it seems like the list of goals gets longer, why is that? Somewhere in our lives it has become socially acceptable to let difficulty mask motivation but this year that changes. My 2016 resolution is to find peace.
After 13 years as a determined athlete I was diagnosed with a rare condition known as MDI (Multidirectional Instability) and it changed my outlook on not only on sports but on life. Generally, it is easy to be a good teammate while your team is succeeding, it is much harder to be positive during times of adversity. Having to sit out my entire senior soccer season was heart wrenching, but finding out I would never play sports again was even worse. After my second surgery I came to the conclusion that being a teammate is the most important role on any team. Life throws unexpected obstacles in our way, just like during a soccer game. The endeavors that I've encountered on and off the field have shaped me into a better person, and moreover a better teammate. The measure of a good sport evolves over his or her career as positive leadership skills such as being a good teammate are obtained. With that said finding solace with my condition would manifest a happier and more successful year all around.
On July 16th, 2015 my cousin Tyler was killed. After an accident involving a deadly firearm, the fifteen year old boy passed away, three days prior to the shooting. Now, months later our small town of Berlin talks about him consistently. It has been apparent that he is not remembered for his athletic excellence or championships, the content of his character made a bigger impact on people's lives than sports ever could. Therefore, if I could go back and do something again, it would be living my life like a true champion. I have come to the conclusion that being remembered for compassion, leadership and integrity are the most important "wins" in this crazy game called life. I may not be able to change the past however, the beautiful thing about life is that my journey is not over yet. I plan to live my life like a true champion.
I plan to continue making a difference in my community by staying involved in student government and community service programs like upbeat peer leadership. Upbeat is a leadership program that where high school students and Berlin community members can give back to the town that has helped us all. Personally, I am in charge of my own branch of this program. My small piece of this puzzle is the Unified Sports House. This house gives special needs students that attend Berlin High School a chance to participate on a sports team; students with and without disabilities can play side by side. This house has impacted my life by showing me that giving back to those in need can make a bigger difference than I ever expected. I am so excited to make a change in my small community.
Ultimately, reaching my goal of obtaining peace will help me become a better student because it will give me the ability to thrive in and out of a classroom setting; sometimes the most important learning does not take place in a school. My life has changed drastically throughout this past year but being able to accept that starts the healing process. Finding tranquility will fill the voids lost and will prepare me to deal with the difficult challenges of life.