I grew up in a small hometown (Warsaw, IN) where going outside all day long in the summer til it was dark was the norm. I was the youngest of 5 children in my family with having 2 older brothers and 2 older sisters. To say the least, I had to be tough in order to hang with them and to be able to stand up for myself. My Grandmother Ellen would always help stand up for me, and was one of my biggest mentors in my life growing up. We would go to her house almost every day that we could. We played every sport I think possible while I was growing up. I was lucky enough that she lived off of a lake too and could really enjoy the outdoors in many ways. She was one of my biggest fans when I started playing sports in school. She always pushed me to try my hardest, and to give it my all. It wasn't until my 8th grade year when I took what she said about working harder than the others when I became much better at running. I ended up getting MVP of my track team my 8th grade year and where 7th grade I didn't even make it to the Conference meet and felt defeated. This is the year where I realized that I had more potential than I ever knew I had if I just would work really hard. Her kindness of helping others, having a big heart, strong determination and sweet spirit transpired through me, I wanted to always be like her. I wanted to help others just like all of the people she helped throughout her life. One big lesson that she taught me was to find something that I absolutely loved, to go and pursue it without anyone else deciding this for me. She did pass away in 2011, is a part of who I am daily, & I know she would be proud.