I’m overwhelmed with gratitude to be alongside nineteen other remarkable individuals in being recipients of the 2025 Prepared for Life (PFL) Scholarship. It is such a humbling accomplishment for our academic and professional lives to be recognized for our character, ambition, and dedication to promoting safe driving to those around us.
I’m currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences and a minor in public health at Auburn University; I hope to attend medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon. One of my favorite things about Auburn is the job I hold with Auburn football and the people I’ve been able to meet because of it. My work as a sports medicine student with Auburn football aids in furthering my educational interests of a career in sports medicine.
One of the tasks we perform as student workers is filling an endless amount of fridges in the football facility with Gatorades and water. Each position group has their own mini-fridge and there are four large fridges in the main parts of the building. Each time that I exit the tight end room, I am met with images and names of the greatest tight ends in Auburn football history. Each time that I exit the tight end room, I am reminded of the purposeful life that Philip Lutzenkirchen lived. For the athletes, the mural serves as a reminder of the dedication and hard work those before them put into the Auburn football program. However, Philip’s legacy means much more after finding out about the resilient, selfless, and encouraging presence he was to those around him. Being met with Philip’s memory before leaving work is a reminder of the mission of the Lutzie 43 Foundation and how I can be a safer driver.
Throughout the Safeguarding Your Legacy curriculum, I found myself focusing on the importance of being resilient. It is a terrifying idea that growth must sometimes occur as the result of bad decisions or poor circumstances, but exercising resilience is the key to growth; the stagnance that could occur without resilience would be a disservice to our best selves. Philip suffered an injury that caused him to have to watch from the sidelines, however, instead of becoming angry and distant, Philip embraced his new perspective and continued to uplift and support his teammates who still got to play the game he loved.
It is unfortunate that each of us will be faced with the kind of adversity that requires resilience, but the prosperity that can occur can be so rewarding. Philip’s injury and the role he took on as an observer and encourager reminded me of my own injury suffered from competitive dancing. When a knee surgery sat me out for several months, my only choice was to watch our dance practices from the side of the room and take notes on the corrections our teachers gave. I worked hard to take notice of the same things our teachers did. I would also reiterate these remarks to my group and ensure that I implemented them when I was able to return to dancing. Before I even knew about Philip’s story, I exemplified similar traits to him where I am now proud to look back on the actions I executed and the contribution I was able to make to my team by remaining present during practices rather than being angry that I couldn’t join in. Philip didn’t take any opportunity for granted, even if it strayed from his normal role on the team. I am so thankful that having an experience with an athletic injury was able to teach me to cherish the pleasantries I get to enjoy each day, like dancing with my friends.
Another pleasant thing many of us are able to enjoy is the ability to drive from place to place and arrive safely at our destinations; however, many people don’t realize the most dangerous thing they do all day is driving their cars. As someone who has only flown twice, I’ve always thought I’d be safer driving down the road than I would be as a passenger in an airplane. I have no control over an airplane and no knowledge of how they operate. I have to trust someone else to get me to my destination when I’ve always preferred to rely on myself. Flying is scheduled, consistent, and there is air traffic control telling pilots when it is safe or not to land. Inversely, when you’re driving in a car, human error and road conditions can cause events to change within a second.
I’d never realized how dangerous my car was until I was speaking with my boyfriend’s dad, who is an army flight instructor, about how I was afraid to work the Auburn vs Missouri 2024 away game. I mentioned to him that the thought of turbulence and having zero control over what was happening with the aircraft was frightening to me. He reminded me that while driving may seem safer because I have control over my own vehicle, I have no control over anybody else’s.
While I was able to get over my fear of flying and go to the Missouri game, I was left shaken with the fact that just because I was always being cautious while driving, didn’t mean anyone else on the road was. We should all be able to feel safe while driving without the worry of what other people are doing that might endanger you and the passengers in your car; this is why the Lutzie 43 Foundation and their mission is so monumental. In an age where you can go anywhere you want by car, being safe drivers has never been more important. I’m grateful to be a part of the Lutzie 43 Foundation family now and to help them work towards making our roads a safer place for everyone by endorsing safe driving habits by promoting the 43 Key Seconds to ensure you’re wearing your seatbelt, have a clear mind, clear eyes, and clear hands before driving.