Essay 1

When I was 10, my parents bought an untrained horse. They could only afford training per hour,
here and there, and I took lessons occasionally. In between my lessons and his training, I rode
him to practice what I'd learned and to maintain his skills. Eight months later I began showing
him in 4H. From 8/10-12/15 and for about 2,000 hours, he and I learned to listen to each other
and work as a team. We were in 2 county fairs and many open shows- winning blue ribbons and
1 Reserve Champion medal.

Essay 2
As a sophomore, I tried out for my 6A high school volleyball team, but was cut. I considered this
a big setback because I had already played for three years and had focused on improving my
skills throughout the summer leading up to tryouts. Although this setback was a bit of a shock
and a discouragement, I decided not to give up. During the following year I played on
Wednesday nights with some members from my stake, took private lessons once a week, and
played club ball from November 2014 to May 2015. My dad set up a volleyball net in our horse
pasture so that I could continue practicing when a gym wasnt available. After club ended, I
practiced with the school team throughout the summer before my junior year, and then tried out
again in August. As a result of the hard work and dedication I put into improving, I made the
team! I was taught important lessons through the experience of being cut and then taking the risk
of working to improve myself the following year with no guarantee of making the school team
again. From this experience I learned to believe in myself and to not give up when faced with
setbacks and obstacles. I also learned that setbacks do not have to be the end of a worthy goal,
and that finding a different way to achieve a goal can provide even more room for growth. I
learned to not give in to fear, to push through my doubts and frustrations, and once again that I
can overcome difficulties through hard work. I also strengthened my skills as a volleyball player
and ended up playing four out of six positions throughout the season. This experience has
prepared me for challenges Ill likely face in college because it taught me how to be resilient to
temporary failure, how to make a plan and follow through, and to be consistent in my efforts to
accomplish my goals. This can all be applied to my studies, extracurricular activities, and
relationships throughout my college years at BYU.
Essay 3
A passion that I have is learning about the human body. During my junior year in high
school I took a class on Medical Terminology which spurred my passion for human health. Our
bodies can do amazing things like maintaining homeostasis and reversing the effects of disease.
The key is maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise. This is important because it can help
reverse and even prevent some diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. I was
fascinated to learn about studies that focused on the effects diet and exercise have on the
durability of chromosomes. These studies have shown that the length of telomeres, or ends of
chromosomes, can be added back after its been lost. It amazes me that the human body can heal
itself to that extent and all that is required is a healthy diet and exercise. Ive continued learning
about the human body by taking Anatomy and Physiology and Health Sciences. From these
classes Ive learned about the fine details of the human body and how the American healthcare
system is run. This passion has led me to pursue a degree in Athletic Training. I am excited to
take part in this program because I enjoy playing sports and want to continue after college. I am
also interested in all of the different types of treatments for sports related injuries. I was grateful
to my high schools trainer as a volleyball player when she helped me with an old foot injury on
multiple occasions and I want to help future athletes. I will be able to use this passion for
learning about health while attending BYU. My passion will motivate me to work hard in my
classes and to achieve the goal of obtaining a bachelors degree in Athletic Training. I will also
use this passion to learn how to prepare healthy meals for myself and my roommates and
maintain a healthy exercise program. By staying healthy I hope to be involved in extracurricular
activities, which will help me meet new people and have a memorable experience at BYU.

Essay 4
While attending high school I have been an active member of Sparrow Club. Every year we
adopt a new child that is in need of financial support due to a life-threatening condition or illness.
My first year in Sparrow Club we adopted a four year old boy who suffered from Ewing's
Sarcoma.That year my club raised money for him and his family, and my eyes were opened to
how much the service and fundraisers meant to them. Some of the ways we raised money and
served his family were selling poinsettias, hanging Christmas lights at their house, and giving
each of the kids in his family Halloween costumes and Christmas presents. Throughout the year
we continued to raise money to help his family pay for his treatment. When he went into
remission five months later, we joyfully celebrated with a party for him. Im grateful to have had
the chance to get to know and serve his family in a meaningful way.
Essay 5
At age 14, I had the opportunity to help coach a 4th grade volleyball team and I continued
coaching throughout high school. This leadership experience influenced my understanding of
self and others as I became aware of my strengths and weaknesses and how I influenced the
team. In the first year, I struggled with my confidence and positive energy in practice. I
remember feeling like the girls did not listen to my feedback. In my second year, I observed
other positive coaches and gained experience. My confidence and ability to coach grew. I learned
to be enthusiastic as I taught new skills to our team. I also realized how important patience,
positive energy, tone of voice, and feedback are. By the third year, I noticed the improvements I
had made as a coach helped build trust with my girls. They were open to feedback and the
energy level was high as we finished undefeated in our bracket.

Essay 6
If I could choose any of the CES schools I would choose to attend BYU Provo. My first reason
for preferring this school is that BYU Provo has an Athletic Training program, while BYU Idaho
does not. My interest in this program comes from spending a great deal of time in high school
playing sports and attending games. Not only did I love participating in sports, but I am also
interested in the many types of injuries and treatments that athletes can experience. My first
choice for a career is Athletic Training and I believe that BYU Provos program will be the best
way for me to achieve this. The next reason is that I have grown up visiting the campus, making
a strong connection with the spirit of this outstanding university. I also have an uncle who
attended BYU Provo, and my mom spent time there. I have enjoyed the stories that shes told me
about her time at BYU, and I look forward to retracing her steps. I also have life-long friends
from where I grew up in Southern Oregon, before my family had to move when I was in ninth
grade, who attend BYU Provo. It would be a great privilege to be near them again and share in
the spirit of attending this amazing campus. Ive talked with these friends about dreams of going
to football and basketball games, hiking to the Y, attending General Conference in person
together, and being present for the devotionals each week. I am also excited for the outdoor
activities that are around the campus. Along with my bond to the school, I like the idea of the
diverse population at BYU Provo. I will also have the opportunity to get to know people with
different backgrounds, interests, and experiences. I am looking forward to the wide variety of
extracurricular activities that will be offered and I will be able to enjoy my current hobbies while
discovering new ones. As the oldest, I will also be the first of the five children in my family to
attend BYU Provo and I am excited to start the tradition among my siblings of attending this
school.
Essay 7
When I was 13 my parents lost their cabinet business. This led to losing our home. The first few
months I didnt notice much of a difference because my dad was able to sell equipment which
meant we could still pay for most of what we needed. However, the money didnt last long and
soon we were relying on the Bishops Storehouse and cutting out unnecessary expenses. This
was when I really became aware of our situation and felt sad and scared. I was sad that my
parents were under so much stress and scared because I didnt know when and where my dad
would get a new job. I worried that we would have to move. I couldnt imagine leaving my
life-long friends and ward family. Although we prayed that my dad would get a job where we
lived, we didnt get that chance. A year after my parents closed their business we were offered a
job in Hillsboro, OR. After the initial relief of knowing my dad had a job again, I felt panic and
sadness at the thought of leaving. Despite the feelings of doom I tried my best to have a positive
attitude. I had hope that I would make new friends while keeping my old ones and that I would
be happy. The first year was the hardest because I had to start high school without the comfort of
my friends. Eventually I found a group of kids in my new ward, but I was still lacking the deep
connections that I had before. I had to go out of my comfort zone repeatedly and learned how to
hide my sadness with a smile. I ended up being in a situation of changing friend groups again,
which was a hard pill to swallow. For the majority of high school I felt pretty lonely. I yearned
for just one or two close friends and Im grateful to say I found them in that new group and
within my family. I also realized that I could be happy by having friends of all ages and that I
didnt need someone my age to fill the role of best friend. My relationship with my mom has
grown so much from this experience and Ive learned to be resilient and happy even in unwanted
circumstances.

Essay 8
In 9/16, I was asked to plan YW in Excellence. I centered the theme around the scripture 2 Nephi
30:31. I planned the program and asked one YW from each class to speak on what it means to
have a perfect brightness of hope, how she can show the love of God to others, and how she has
felt the love of God in her life. As a surprise to the girls and their families, my mom and I gave a
special presentation on Christ. I was told by parents it was the most spiritual YW in Excellence
they had experienced.
Essay 9
I have had the opportunity to go on two treks. On each trek I helped pull a handcart 30 miles in
three days. On the first one, as a 12 year old, I had fun but felt homesick and a little lonely. I
returned home with 142 mosquito bites and cellulitis:) When I went again as a 16 year old, I was
the big sister and kept a happy attitude and a hard work ethic. All along I was able to push or pull
the hand cart and encourage my siblings. I learned the value of staying positive while doing hard
things.