Goal #1
I want to earn a bachelors degree in aerospace engineering.
Goal #2
I want to earn a PhD in either mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering as I am very interesting in both air and motor-craft.
Goal #3
I strive to become a successful design engineer and, eventually, open my own engineering firm.
Leadership #1
GJHS Swim team Captain
Leadership #2
I founded and coached a summer conditioning camp to help swimmers who couldn’t afford to train with the local club team or those who felt ostracized due to a lack of experience.
Leadership #3
Robotics Mentor taught students how to use Fusion 360 (CAD software) to design their ideas and parts for the robot.

“There is no cure.” These words reverberated in my head as the doctors shared the diagnosis of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). I avoided eye contact with the doctors and glared at the fluids dripping drop by drop into my vein. Although I was screaming inside, it was at least not the terminal diagnosis of lymphoma that had been the working hypothesis when I was admitted the day prior due to a 15% weight loss, constant brain fog, severe somnolence, and recurrent syncopal episodes. While staring out the window and waiting to be discharged, I decided that I would not surrender. In hopes of continuing to pursue my swimming passion and feeling empowered by the IV, I turned to my mom and shared that I wanted to attend the swim meet scheduled for the following day. Trying to be realistic, she reminded me of how much practice I had recently missed and how fatigued I had been, but she was ultimately supportive and endorsed my decision. My event was the 100 yd breast. Racing for a cause, I swam and earned my championship cut just as extreme fatigue consumed my body. This meet was pivotal. It proved I could do whatever I set my mind to do. However, I eventually realized that I would not be able to brute force my way through my disease and would need a much more calculated approach. Although the doctors told me there was no cure for POTS, I would not accept the impact of living with such a disability. At first, I received IV fluids weekly to manage the symptoms; however, to avoid routinely being jabbed, I researched the triggers for my symptoms. I learned about proper hydration, electrolyte supplementation, and diet. While discovering that stronger muscles could help prevent venous pooling in the legs, I increased my training and became more disciplined as a result. Whilst I gained rough control over POTS, I felt the need to prove my worth in swimming since my peers couldn’t see my limitations, and I didn’t want to appear weak. After narrowly missing my goals freshman year, I wanted to show myself that I could still race and push myself like I had previously. I added training sessions before school and, after evening practice, even extra dryland alone in my garage. Simple exercises like pushups, pull-ups, and crunches helped me progress significantly and kept my symptoms at bay.

Eventually my work paid off. I placed tenth at states while securing a national qualification time of 50.31 seconds in the 100-yard fly as a sophomore. In my junior year, I placed in the top heat at state finals where I won a sixth-place medal. Lastly, during my senior year, I was able to repeat my successes at states while also breaking the city and county records in the 100-yard fly. Through many trials and tribulations, I was able to earn back my competitive spirit and enjoy the fleeting moments of each race. At the same time, I maintained a 4.0 GPA, scored in the top 1% in both the PSAT and SAT, and took the most advanced classes I could get my hands on. I plan to continue to strive for my best while swimming and studying at the Georgia Institute of Technology. While POTS presented its challenges, it also blessed me with discipline. I realized that the mind is a powerful tool which can be utilized to accomplish your dreams. POTS taught me to face challenges with a determined perspective no matter how difficult because each obstacle presents a moment to learn and grow.

Goal #1
Earn my bachelor's degree in biology at Villanova to prepare for advanced study and professional certification.
Goal #2
Secure internships or volunteer opportunities in fields related to sports medicine, to gain real-world experience and build professional connections.
Goal #3
Apply and attend medical school after graduation.
Leadership #1
Boy Scouts: I earned my Eagle Scout Award by building a disc golf course at a local park. I also was the Senior Patrol Leader for my troop. In this role, I organized events and led scout meetings.
Leadership #2
Coached youth soccer teams for MAYAA and LOUYAA, created practice plans and led the team at games and practices.
Leadership #3
Cook at Restaurant: I work at a local hot dog and burger restaurant where most of my shift I am the head cook and have to lead the kitchen. I have to make sure everything gets done effectively and efficiently.

During my 5th grade graduation, the slide with my photo and goal in life proudly proclaimed I wanted to be an Eagle Scout. I was only 10 and enjoyed Cub Scouts, so it seemed like a logical future step. Seven years later, I can say 10-year-old me had no idea what was ahead. If I had known the time, effort, and perseverance it would take to achieve Eagle, I might have given up before I even started. Thankfully, I stuck with it.

In the early stages of Scouts, I enjoyed working through the ranks with my friends. As I got older, other activities became a priority, like soccer and my job as a cook at a local restaurant. I had friends quit Scouts and might have too if it were not for a camping trip my freshman year when we went rafting and caving. This experience rejuvenated my desire to stick with Scouts and work towards achieving Eagle Scout rank.
In my sophomore year, I had advanced to the point when I needed to decide on my Eagle Scout project – the last step to achieving my goal. I decided to build a 9-hole disc golf course in a local park. In my research, I discovered a disc golf community that was enthusiastic about the prospect of a new course and local park officials were excited I wanted to bring this amenity to their park.  Little did I know that this project would take two years to complete!

As I began planning where and how I was going to build the course, I discovered that every step and little detail had challenges that I needed to solve. Designing the course and figuring out the layout of each tee box and basket involved hours of walking around the park, meeting with county officials, and talking with disc golfers who had designed other courses. When I met with the county to present my final layout days before starting brush clearing, they pulled out a map of the park showing forest conservation areas where I could not build. The county officials apologized for not realizing this sooner, but unfortunately my whole layout was through these areas and would have to be redesigned. This setback was a huge demotivator and I feared my project was doomed. Again, I felt like quitting, but I’d already invested more than 30 hours into planning and knew I owed it to myself to continue on toward my Eagle Scout goal.

Over the next several months, I redesigned the course layout, fundraised more than $8,000, and purchased the different materials and tools I needed to build the course. I spent hours in our garage with my dad and fellow Scouts getting ready for my first work day. We had nine 4x8 foot areas to excavate for the turf tee boxes, nine baskets to construct and set in concrete, and nine signposts to install. With the help of heavy machinery and 25 volunteers, I led a successful work weekend to build the course. Then came months of designing all of the signs and installing them – another long process of back and forth with county officials.

With well over 100 hours logged personally on researching, designing, coordinating, and building my Eagle project, I learned to be persistent, honed my leadership skills, and improved communication while leading fellow scouts and volunteers during the two year process. I learned the value of seeking guidance from experts to minimize mistakes and help the process go more smoothly. This project and my whole Scouting experience shaped me into the person I am today. Looking back, if I could, I would tell 10-year old me to stick with Scouts, even if you feel uncomfortable or have other interests you'd rather pursue, because you will gain leadership skills and self confidence that will help you achieve any goal you set for yourself going forward.

Goal #1
My ultimate goal is to serve God wherever I go because without Him, I would be nothing. However, my career goal is to become a nurse choosing to become a family nurse practitioner is growing up, I watched my mom work day and night shifts at different nursing homes tirelessly to provide for my older sister and I when she did not have a lot to give. From that young age, she inspired me to work in the for the medical field even if it broke her body, she continued to push. Every patient that she would care for, she treated them as her own stories of what different patients would tell her. Many of them would tell her "Thank you for genuinely caring for us." Even with my mother’s patients as humans that deserve love and care.
Goal #2
I want to go to college and get my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Then I will continue practitioner.
Goal #3
Then I will continue as a practitioner. Eventually, I want to spread the love that my mom gave out even when she was not receiving it. And most importantly, let God know my love.

Leadership #1
ROTC Brigade Commander
Leadership #2
ROTC Company Commander
Leadership #3
Senior Class Treasurer

Endurance is the epitome of my life. After being tested, from the beginning of my life to my now, in my 18th year of living, I realized success wasn’t the opposite of failure -it was born from it. While many students may write about their hardships and possibly their parents getting a divorce, I will be doing the same thing, but the factor that will differentiate the others from me is that this is my story. There is no other Dena Daltirus born on March 21, 2007, who has gone through the exact life experiences that I have gone through at the exact time that I have. This is my life and my experience. I was born in Orlando, Florida, to Haitian parents named Marie Denise Daltirus and Dieunel Daltirus. Before my mother married my father, she was married to my sister’s, Lourdy Joseph,
father. Then my sister’s father divorced my mother, and that is when my mother married my father, and I was born. Since I can remember, my mom and dad have not gotten along. It was not a pleasant sight to grow up in. I can still remember when my dad dragged my mom across the carpet floor while my mom was screaming for him to stop. From that statement, I hope you understand the kind of household that my sister and I grew up in. Even though I had my mom and dad in the house, I felt like I had one parent present emotionally, physically, and financially.

“Is this what love truly represents?” is something that I would constantly ask myself. What confused me the most was that my dad was a Pastor at a church and could preach, smile, and laugh at church while going home and treating his family like this. At the time, my little developing brain could not grasp that concept.
This went on for years, and finally my mom decided to take my sister and me and move to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We left my dad behind, and it was just the three of us for the next two years. In those two years, my hatred for my dad thickened, resulting in me becoming tremendously bitter. While my mom was at work and my sister, cousin, and I were in our apartment, my dad attempted to get into the apartment to come see us. We would not open the door, so he just stayed at the front door, knocking. At our young age, we decided to jump out of
the window and run away to get away from him. We ran to the nearest Rite Aid to get in contact
with our mom. This event was something that remained in my head forever. After those two years of living in Pennsylvania, my mom decided to move back to Florida after my second-grade year. I was extremely confused about the reason that we moved back to
Florida. Our life was just getting started in Pennsylvania, and of course, I was enjoying playing
in the snow. Come to find out, my mom and dad had been in contact, and they decided to give it another try. By this point, I hated my dad and wanted nothing to do with him. But I always had a tiny soft spot for him because I used to be a daddy’s girl and missed that connection that we developed. However, my hatred for him clouded that side of me. When we moved back to Orlando, Florida, we began to live with my sister’s dad while my mom and dad looked for a place to reside together as a “family”. My sister’s dad would give me three dollars every day to use to buy lunch at school, and I admired that so much because he was not my dad, but acted like he was. Every time I saw my dad, I would lie right to his face when he would ask who we stayed with. And “Why do you have to know”? It’s not like you contributed much to my life anyway. ”It is what floated through my developing brain. Seeing my parents together broke my heart. How he would talk to her and scream at her would bring me to tears at night, crying into my pillow. Nonetheless, my parents finally found a house that was in Haines City, Florida. “What even is this place?” is what I asked myself. I wanted to stay in Orlando, but I had no power to change their minds. So, we moved to Haines City. The house was nice, but what lived in the house was not nice. It was miserable. It got so bad that my mom started sleeping with my sister and me on our bunk bed. The resentment that I had for my dad was so unfavorable that I told him, “I do not love you, I hate you. ”And I told my mom that Dad deserves to go to hell”. ”At that moment, I was filled with so much hatred and bitterness. Essentially, I was poisoning myself with the hatred that I had in me. After the move to Haines City, my mom told my sister and me that we needed to find a church to begin attending. My sister did a quick Google search and we found a church called “Landmark Baptist Church. ”When we began attending, it changed my life. Going to church has always been a constant thing in my life, but it was never truly real to me. It’s ironic when I told my mom that my dad deserves to go to hell because we as humans all deserve to go to hell because of our sinful nature. But it’s through trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior that you can be 100% sure that you will go to heaven when you die. I learned this after years of attending Landmark, and it has changed my life for the better. This is what
catapulted me into becoming who I am today. My life would have been different without the Lord, and that is a fact. I finally stopped cursing, and the poison that I was injecting into my body from the hatred began to come to the surface, and God started to convict me about it. The resentment that I had for both my mom and dad began to be made clean. I grew bitter toward my mom because she brought my sister and me back from the environment that we ran from. Yet, I recognized that my parents were trying their best with what they were given and how they grew up. They have their traumas and wounds that they never healed from. Sadly, many Haitians did not grow up to speak about their emotions, so they deal with it the best they can, and unfortunately, that bleeds onto their future kids. Now it is the responsibility of the children not to allow how they were raised to spread to their offspring and significant others. This realization began to come about when, as I grew up, I began to blame my parents for the negative traits that I have. Now, it’s my responsibility to heal and grow and not remain identical to my parents. God is so good that even with all these setbacks in my life, I have been able to achieve many things in my life. Through His power, I thrived in the JROTC program. I just graduated one week ago. However, before I graduated, I held many leadership roles in JROTC. I was a Squad
Leader, Company Commander, and Brigade Commander. As the Brigade Commander at Ridge
Community High School, I oversee over 800 cadets. It is my job to not only lead them but to inspire them. I pray that my testimony will aid them to never allow their past to define who they are now and who they will become. I have won many awards not only in the JROTC program, but also around my school. In my 11th grade year, I was blessed to have passed the EKG certification exam and become CPR certified, and I am now EKG and CPR certified. My aspiration in life is to serve the Lord with everything I do. This is difficult, but it is possible. I want to go to college to become a nurse practitioner. Though I did not mention this earlier, my mom is a nurse, and even with her difficult life, she always treated her patients as humans who deserve love and care. Eventually, I want to spread the love that my mom gave out, even when she was not receiving it. The Against All Odds Scholarship will be a true blessing and will help me pay for schooling. Amen!

Goal #1
I plan to graduate college with Bachelors, Masters, and PHD.
Goal #2
To become a successful doctor so I can spend the rest of my life helping others.
Goal #3
To establish my own medical practice.

Leadership #1

I was selected as the captain of my competitive soccer team which I have held for over five years. My role in this position is to lead the team to motivate my teammates in a positive manner and support them in training.
Leadership #2
I have also been granted the position of captain of my high school weightlifting team. In this position I mentored and encouraged current teammates while also recruiting new teammates to join.
Leadership #3
From the academic standpoint I was Vice President of the Student Government Association where I helped plan student events. I also listened to opinions from my peers and classmates to make change within the school.

Never in my life could I have envisioned my sports career being affected as it was. Yet, a nightmare became a reality on that life-changing day in January of 2023. Most of my free time has been dedicated to sports and athletics. Dance, gymnastics, cheerleading when I was younger, track and field and cross country as I got older, soccer as I grew into the person I am today, and weightlifting as I found a home where I did not know one could be built. Initially, I started weightlifting to be healthy, and strong, and to enhance my soccer career which led me to join my high school weightlifting team. My first year was a success, I quickly gained strength and confidence and became a freshman state qualifier.

During my sophomore season, a week before the District Championship, while attempting a snatch lift, I lost control of the bar and it came crashing down on me fracturing my C7 vertebrae. According to the doctors, the fracture was a millimeter away from paralyzing me for the rest of my life and ruining any chance I had to become a better athlete. After the accident, I had to wear a neck brace for twelve weeks and refrain from physical activity for eighteen weeks. I had to learn how to function with this accessory that was so foreign to me. Not only did this accident and recovery take a physical toll on my body but also a mental toll on my mind. During my recovery, it helped me to stay focused on school and also attend sporting events so I could still support my team as captain. I came to the decision that I would not let this injury define me, not only as an athlete but as a person. When I was finally able to remove the neck brace and return to physical activities, I faced a new challenge: fear. Every time I looked at the weight bar, the only thing running through my mind was that day when everything changed. Would it happen again? Would I be paralyzed this time? This nagging fear was paralyzing itself. For weeks, I tried to approach the bar but couldn't. When I could finally collect enough confidence to approach the bar, my hands were sweaty, and I had this pit in my stomach. All I could picture was my hospital visit; unable to move around, unable to live life normally, and unable to do the thing I loved most. Although going back to lifting weights seemed like the most terrifying thing in the world, it was time for me to overcome this obstacle of fear. I decided that the best approach would be to accomplish what I could instead of trying to do everything all at once. I slowly started by building my strength, pulling the bar from the ground in a power-snatch motion. When I felt comfortable fully power-snatching again, I started overhead pressing in the power rack. Finally, I had baby-stepped my way to completing a full snatch. When I stood in front of the bar, I had the same fear, but I knew during the hard work up to this point that I had completed all the necessary steps to succeed. I gripped the bar, went for it, and accomplished something that seemed impossible. This experience is a constant reminder that any challenge that I am faced with, I will overcome with the right mindset and the will to work. I learned that healing- both physical and mental- has its own unique process. When faced with complex tasks I can manage by taking my time and breaking them down into smaller tasks. I am confident that I will overcome any obstacle and reach my goals. I will continue to apply this attitude of not giving up on my future sports, as well as, my academic endeavors.

Goal #1
My goal is to study business and learn specifically about entrepreneurship. After my undergraduate studies, my current plan is to earn a master’s degree in the area of business. When time allows, I’d love to participate in an internship so that I can learn from other business owners what they did and how they became so successful. Ultimately, my aspiration is to start my own business and put in the time, effort, and hard work to make it a successful business as well. Once I’ve accomplished my goal, I’d be able to mentor others, which is important to me.

Goal #2
Philanthropy is also something I take seriously, as evidenced by my more than 300 service hours throughout high school. During my sophomore year, I founded a service club at my high school, Hawks Serve. Through this organization, I researched, organized, planned, and executed quarterly service projects for my classmates and me to volunteer in various capacities. All activities supported local non-profits, so students gained exposure to the good work already being done in our community while earning service hours alongside their friends. I am proud to have contributed to my school and community through Hawks Serve, and I aspire to always find opportunities to give back.
Goal #3
Finally, I would love to play baseball as long as possible. My plan is to work hard so that I can continue pursuing this dream. As I head off to Montreat College, I'm excited to be pushed by my coaches, trainers, and teammates.

Leadership #1
At the start of my sophomore year, I founded Hawks Serve, a service club at SFC, my high school, that continues today. I developed a name and logo, gained approval, and accepted member signups. Immediately, 100 people volunteered to participate. My goal was to work alongside my classmates to do good throughout our community while learning about local non-profits.

I helped plan and coordinate the details with non-profits and my school for each quarterly activity. Activities included planting a garden for Peace River Center, stuffing backpacks of meals for food insecure students through Kids Pack, and cheering on prom guests with special needs as paparazzi at Tim Tebow’s Night to Shine, just to name a few. Events were announced and advertised during school hours. Of the 100 members, it’s typical to have 20 to 65 volunteers attend each activity. At the events, a representative from the non-profit would first speak to the students to educate them on the mission of their organization. This was a valuable component because students might be inspired to do more. Then, participants would engage in the planned activity.

In 2023, SFC received the diocesan St. Mother Teresa Award recognizing Hawks Serve. Leading this organization has been meaningful to me because of the introduction to non-profit organizations it gave to my classmates, many of whom found their passion for volunteering. The volunteers’ continued dedication to Hawks Serve has made the experience fulfilling, and I’m proud to have contributed to my school and community through Hawks Serve.

Leadership #2
Especially in high school, I’ve discovered that I love to coach and teach. I serve as an assistant with the Lakeland Cotillion Assemblies Club. Twice a week for four months out of the year, I teach kids and younger teenagers how to dance, be respectful, polite, and have good manners. More importantly, I work to make the students feel confident and secure. Dancing with others, especially in middle school, can be intimidating. It’s my job to make them feel comfortable and respected. I believe this self-assurance will help them in life, not just Cotillion.
Leadership #3
Overall, I’ve found that I most enjoy service and leadership when I’m helping others, especially when I’m working with children. I feel that it’s very important to show kindness because we never know what someone else is going through. Buddy Break is a program offered at FPC that provides a safe place for kids with special needs and their siblings to have fun and establish meaningful friendships while their caregivers get a much-needed break from their overwhelming responsibilities. Once a month, I serve as a buddy. I’m assigned a kid with special needs, and for the morning, we play together, complete an arts and crafts project, participate in a Bible story, and eat lunch.

Am I smart enough? Fit enough? Funny enough? Athletic enough? Popular enough? Grappling with self-worth and self-confidence is a normal, but nonetheless difficult, part of growing up. Those questions and more simmer at the surface, influencing the majority, if not all, of students, becoming even more prevalent when others point out those insecurities.

As an elementary-aged child, and actually to this day, I stood out as the tallest in my class. My parents always encouraged me to use my size for good… To be kind to everyone and to stand up for those who needed it. We’re also told in Romans 15 that the strong should protect the weak. Those things, coupled with my love for making people smile, shaped the way I responded to bullying. Witnessing someone hurting another person, mentally or physically, sparked something deep within, especially if bystanders laughed or just walked away.

My earliest, but certainly not only, recollection of bullying is from the first grade. After PE, I witnessed a classmate picking on another student for having dirty clothes and smelling bad. Immediately, I reacted by confronting the tormentor and insisting he shut his mouth. I then got in line next to the insult receiver to ensure the harassment ceased.    

A few years later, as I entered middle school, I found myself on the receiving end of harsh criticism. As a sixth grader, I struggled with my weight. Hey, they say you grow out before you grow up, right?! Well, middle schoolers don’t often take that into account, and on my first day, I was almost immediately taunted for being “fat.” My feelings were hurt, and my self-esteem was wounded.

Although this wasn’t a kind way to motivate me, it still did. I kept quiet and refrained from any verbal retaliation because I wanted to be the bigger person. I understood that one way to quiet the nay-sayers and, more importantly, to feel better about myself, was to make a change. So, I put in the work by regularly hitting the gym and going on runs – activities I still do today, years later. This discipline has made me healthier, both physically and mentally.

In hindsight, I understand that it took courage to work hard and fight for a change in myself instead of throwing my hands up in defeat. When I started this process in sixth grade, I was 5’8” and 170 pounds. By the time middle school came to a close, and I was fortunate to hit a growth spurt as well, I was 6’2” and 165 pounds. At that point, I was too skinny and have spent my high school career working to build muscle and get better at my sport.

During my sophomore year, I was playing fall baseball for my high school team, I had a pretty major setback. My knee had been bothering me, and I was wearing a support, but on one particular night, it didn’t help. I was up to bat, and as I swung, my knee popped out of place. I immediately went down, feeling the worst pain of my life. I was taken out of the game and soon had an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon. I was told I needed surgery and months of recovery would be necessary. I was devastated. I had worked so hard to get in shape for baseball season, and this would mess up those plans.  After my surgery, I was on crutches for months. I lost so much muscle in my leg and was discouraged. But, I kept with the plan.

I routinely went to physical therapy and committed myself to getting my leg back in shape. It was grueling, painful, and frustrating, but I stuck with it. I missed the very beginning of my sophomore baseball season, as I was rehabbing. When I was finally ready to go, most of my friends and teammates had been called up to varsity, but my coaches wanted me to get back into the swing of things on the JV team. Although my spirits were low, I knew I had a choice to make – quit and give up or keep pushing. But, I was determined to not throw away my talent.

Again, I put my head down and worked. I played JV for most of my sophomore spring season until one day, my coach pulled me aside at school and told me I was getting called up to varsity. I was ecstatic. I had persevered.

Fast-forward to my senior year. I felt fully prepared to start the season. I started in right field, hit fifth in the lineup, and became known as one of the best power-hitters and right fielders in the County. I made the Coaches’ All-State Team (based on athletics and academics) and the County All-Star Team. Our team was in the top 25 in Florida for most of the season, and we won our District tournament. It was a great year for me personally and for the team.

To tie all of this together, the summer before my senior year, my dad and I started a men’s group with some of my buddies that continues to meet today. We’ve focused on a book titled “The Men We Need.” The book highlights the importance of springing into action and not remaining passive, and that the world needs men of courage and strength – who are always ready to take responsibility.

These core values took me right back to those times in my past when I had taken action and gave me a fuller understanding of my purpose.
Being a good human is about taking action – sometimes to help others, and sometimes to help yourself. By taking action, we can help create a better world.

Look, the world can sometimes be cruel. As I mentioned, I’ve experienced it myself. And that isn’t going to change as I enter college and beyond. But, we can do our best to outshine that negativity.
As I head to college to continue my baseball career, I plan to take all this experience and knowledge with me. I understand that I’m not done growing and changing. I know I can still get better, and I plan to do just that.

Goal #1
My first career goal is to become a behavioral analyst specializing in working with children with disabilities.  I hope to use my experience and knowledge to eventually establish my own practice, providing personalized support and resources to help children thrive in their everyday environments.  I want to create a space where children receive personalized care and families feel empowered, understood, and supported.

Goal #2
My second career goal is to study why adolescents commit criminal offenses in order to better understand the underlying causes and offer more effective resources and interventions.  By focusing on prevention and rehabilitation, I hope to make a lasting impact on youth and help create safer, more supportive communities.

Goal #3
My third career goal is to become a defense attorney, ensuring that every individual is given a fair and equal opportunity under the constitution of the United States.  I believe in protecting the rights of all people and advocating for justice, especially for those who may not have the means to defend themselves. Eventually, I hope to establish my own legal practice, where I can continue to serve my community with integrity.

#1 Leadership
One of my proudest leadership accomplishments was being name captain of my cheer team during my senior year.  This role allowed me to lead by example, support my teammates, and help set the tone of our team spirit, work ethic, and success.  It was an honor to be trusted with the responsibility of guiding others, and it helped me grow not only as a leader, but also as a teammate.

#2 Leadership
Another  leadership accomplishment was serving as a trainer for the Lakeland Eagles nonprofit youth football and cheerleading in my community throughout my four years of high school.  I began my journey with the Lakeland Eagles, and being able to give back to the program that played such a crucial role in my development was incredibly fulling.  The community supported me and helped me become athletically eligible to make the high school team once I aged out of the program.  It was an honor to contribute to the growth of future athletes, just as the program had once contributed to mine.

#3 Leadership
Another important leadership role that meant the most to me was working the Buddy Bowls in my community, where I helped children with disabilities particiapte in sports.  Having a nephew with autism has given me a deeper and more personal perspective on what it means to support and celebrate these kids.  This role allowed me to help children experience the joy of playing a sport they might not typically have access to.  I will forever be grateful for the time I was able to step away from my own world and mentor those incredible children.

When I think of my athletic experience on the cheer team at George Jenkins High School, a plethora of scenarios that come to mind. From times where I had to practice for hours after everyone had left just to perfect certain jumps
to times where I’ve had to speak to my teammates and encourage them past hardships, my time on the squad has been a journey filled with both personal and collective strife.

To be quite honest, leadership did not come naturally to me, and prior to my role as captain, I was never the type of girl to commandeer control in situations. Before my transition into this position, I was often the girl that offered advice, but stayed mostly to the sidelines for fear of saying the wrong thing or leading them in the wrong direction. It was during my junior year that I found my understanding of leadership being shaped into what it is today. It was a rainy day, girls were trickling into the practice room slowly, but surely, filling up the spots around me as I began to stretch for the days practice. One of our teams captains approached me, a smile on her face, leading me to believe that she had come bearing positive news. However, this captain, a girl who I had looked up to for so long, had told me bluntly: “I don’t think you’re good enough to be on this team, some of your jumps simply aren’t up to par.” in that instant all I could feel was disappointment in myself, sadness for having failed my team, and a bit of resentment towards her. I mulled over these words for quite some time, as they would often pop into my head just before I would do a jump, or lead cheer. It was during a conversation with my mom in which I realized that internalizing her harsh words were not going to help me learn. Instead, I learned to take a step back and reflect on what it truly means to be a leader. Leaders should embody  encouragement and support, of course, but most of all, a leaders’ role is to uplift and inspire the girls on their team. This is something that I have carried with me all throughout my year as captain on the team, and has often popped into my head when addressing my teammates. A particular instance that I believe showcases this learning occurred in our football season. I was beginning to lead half of the team in a practice cheer before the game when I heard an argument erupt just behind me. As the only captain within hearing distance, I quickly called for a water break and made my way over to the girls. One of my co-captains had been chastising a freshman girl who had just joined the team, stating that she simply wasn’t being loud enough. I could see in the girls eyes the same sadness that hit me the day I was told I wasn’t good enough, and I knew this was a chance to step up and show my leadership. I asked my co-captain if I could speak to her alone, and upon pulling her off to the side, I reminded her that as a leader, it should be her goal to realize the potential of these new girls and help them to learn without diminishing their confidence. She seemed to think long and hard about this, even taking a water break and walking away from the group. When she came back to me, she let me know that she thought what I had said, was entirely correct, and thanked me for my guidance. I never thought that I would see the day in which I fully fulfilled and realized my capabilities as a leader, and I don’t think that I ever would’ve been able to accomplish them if not for the hardships that I have been able to get past.

Goal #1
My first major goal is to complete a college degree in business management, build a strong foundation in leadership, finance, marketing and operations.

Goal #2
My second goal is to star my own roofing business.

Goal #3
My last goal is to become a recognized business leader in my community and give back by donating free roofs to families in need.

Leadership #1
As a captain of the soccer team, I consistently motivated my teammates to improve while leading by example through my strong work ethic and discipline both on and off the field.

Leadership #2
I was inducted into the National Honor Society in recognition of my consistent 4.0 GPA.

Leadership #3
I was inducted into the National Honor Society in recognition of my consistent 4.0 GPA.

My name is Johnathon Rocendo, and I attend Frostproof High School. My journey in athletics has always been about more than just competition. It has been a way to prove to myself that I can overcome whatever life throws at me. This year, I committed to five sports: soccer, football (as the kicker), cross country, track & field, and weightlifting. Through these sports, I’ve learned the value of discipline, time management, and perseverance, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA and staying focused on my academic goals.

When I was four, my dad walked out of my life. For years, I silently asked myself why he didn’t want me. That kind of abandonment cuts deep, especially at an age when you’re still learning what love and stability mean. I turned to sports as a powerful way to transform my confusion, sadness, and anger into focus, determination, and growth.

Then, just over a year ago, I lost my best friend, Jose Torres. He was like a brother to me. He was riding a Jet Ski on Lake Clinch when he drowned. This loss hit me in a completely different way. It wasn’t about someone choosing to leave; it was about someone being taken too soon. The grief was overwhelming, and for a while, I didn’t know how to cope. There were moments when I didn’t feel like showing up—to school, to practice, or to life. But once again, sports gave me a reason to keep moving forward. I found strength in honoring his memory by pushing myself harder and living in a way he’d be proud of. I also turned to prayer, asking God to heal me not just emotionally, but spiritually. I needed strength I couldn’t find on my own.

Through every challenge I’ve faced, whether it was my dad’s absence or the heartbreaking loss of my best friend, I’ve learned that pain doesn’t have to define me. Instead, it has become the fuel for my drive to be better, both as an athlete and as a person. I am a two-time District Champion in soccer, a three-time State Qualifier for cross country, a State Qualifier for weightlifting, and a State Champion in the SSAA Atlantic State Division as a football kicker. Most recently, I was named to The Ledger’s All-County Boys Soccer First Team.