Winning the Prepared for Life (PFL) Scholarship was such a surprise and is an amazing honor to me. This scholarship means so much more to me than the money that it provides for my education, although I am incredibly grateful for that! This opportunity is also a chance to share about Philip Lutzenkirchen while making an impact on the community I live in. The lessons from the Safeguarding Your Legacy curriculum made an impact on me this year. The program reminded me that legacy is not built overnight, but through small, intentional choices each day. I hope that I can build a legacy of being courageous and clear headed.
Growing up in a family of Auburn grads and as a huge Auburn fan myself, I knew all about Philip’s impact on the Auburn athletic program and the Auburn family. From the game-winning touchdown in the “Cam-back” Iron Bowl to the Lutzie celebration dance, I have loved the stories and videos of Philip’s athletic career. My mom even still treasures a photo she took when she saw Philip at the Rose Bowl for Auburn’s national championship run in January of 2014. But Philip was much more than just an athlete. He was set apart as a leader, teammate, friend, and family member. Those roles are the ones that shaped this curriculum and had an impact on me personally.
During my time at a small private high school, I had to wrestle with and learn what it means to live differently than the world does. Having a strong sense of faith, courage, and leadership is what has helped me be able to handle high school life. The Lutzie 43 curriculum and checklist, which I studied in my Leadership class at Lee Scott Academy, provided two areas that I held on to this year: Courage and a Clear Head. My parents have both instilled in me at a young age the importance of faith. This has helped me make decisions that honor God. As I have gotten older I am starting to see what God has blessed me with. He has given me courage to be a leader in my friend groups and around school. My courage comes from knowing my worth is not in earthly things, but in honoring God. Similarly, being clear minded has shaped my understanding of how to live. I have always assumed a clear head meant that I must be sober, not drinking. From my study of the checklist I also see that it means that I’m not impaired with distractions when I get behind the wheel of a car. This is something I have been applying to my life and my driving. I make sure that my mind is not distracted by the events of the day, the notifications from my phone, or the music in my car. I want to be a sober minded individual anytime a big decision is happening.
I know that there will be similar challenges to face in college as i start my time at Auburn University. My training from the Lutzie lessons and the checklist will be helpful as I prepare for this next stage of life. As I had to do in high school, I will have to make choices on how to lead with courage and how to live with a clear mind. I plan on participating in Greek Life and know that the brotherhood that develops can be similar to that of a sports team in high school. Like my high school years in basketball and soccer, I hope my brothers see me as someone they can turn to or count on when they are in need. Philip’s impact on his teammates is one I hope to emulate in my time at Auburn.
I am particularly looking forward to participating in the events that Lutzie 43 promotes. Mike Lutzenkirchen has many opportunities to share about Philip’s legacy and about the Lutzie program throughout the year. One thing I am looking forward to is hearing Mr. Lutzenkirchen share with young men in fraternities about protecting your Legacy and how important it is to make good decisions. I know that it will help set a tone in a time when we are all deciding who we want to be. The annual Lutzie 43 Road Race is another way that I know I can help support this program. Living in Auburn and running in the same places that Philip did will be a special way to honor his legacy. Thank you to the Lutzenkirchen’s and to the Board for investing in this program, for the dedication and time it takes to work with the recipients, and for the impact that it has had on me.