“It takes a village to raise a child,” is a phrase that is near and dear to my heart. It helps remind me of all of the people and organizations who have helped me become who I am today. I believe that it is my duty to give back to the community that raised me, as these people have helped teach me life lessons that I live by. These include figure skating, track & field, and volunteering at the hospital. Figure skating has been a big part of my life and an outlet for me for many years. I was drawn to it by the seemingly effortless elegance that comes with performing. What I learned through my years of skating, is that everything takes practice, and when you fall, you must get up. This has been a valuable life lesson for me, and so I was thrilled