I am beyond grateful and humbled to be selected as a recipient of the 2024 Prepared for Life (PFL) Scholarship. I want to thank the Lutzenkirchen family and the Lutzie 43 Foundation for this opportunity. With this scholarship, I am able to continue my education and pursue my dream of becoming a music instructor.
I didn’t go through the same struggles as Philip did, but I did learn from him. At a very young age, I lost my dad due to cancer. Over time I battled with depression and anxiety. Back in eigth grade, I had the chance to meet with Mr. Lutzenkirchen at Troy Univerisity. There were a lot of emotions in the room that day. When I heard about Philip, I was told of how he kept his head up and continued to keep a positive attitude even during his challenges. That was something that was embedded into my heart as a reminder to keep going.
In the Safeguarding Your Legacy Curriculum, the lesson that meant the most to me was perseverance. There were many times where I wanted to throw in the towel whether it was at home, school, or work. I was getting tired of everything. Sometime last year while I was out delivering for DoorDash, I had pulled into a empty parking lot to take a break. I was physically and mentally tired and wanted to give up. I saw how all my friends were having fun and got to go home after a long day. It had got to me, the fact that I was reminded I didn’t have a house and I had to DoorDash just so I could help keep a roof over me and my family’s head. I cried in the car. Before I ended my break from DoorDash, I looked at my 43 Key Seconds lanyard and key. I remembered Philip and how he persevered through his hardships. He didn’t quit after one setback, he kept going. Later on that year in the fall, Mr. Lutzenkirchen came back again to talk to us about safe driving and Philip. The lessons I learned from his legacy helped me grow as a person. Learning what it means to persevere through my most difficult moments made me a stronger daughter, sister, Christian, and student-athlete. Because of Philip’s legacy and I wanted to be more like him. It drove me to want to not only keep holding on but do more. I wanted to spread positivity like he did and help others. I started to work harder in everything I did. Because of my dedication, respect, and growth I was given a leadership position in the band. I had learned to manage my time and scheduling between band, work, and track. As I matured, my faith strengthened, and my perspective shifted. I’m still living in a motel, but I began to see challenges as opportunities for growth rather than impossible obstacles. I created goals for myself that will one day impact those around me.
Through my four years of high school, I impacted those around me in a way that I helped changed the world for the better. During one of the last days of band camp in 2023, I had just dropped off my mom at work. Her job was 30 minutes from where we lived so I had to get up early during the week of band camp to keep the car. That morning after we arrived to her job, I didn’t sit for a few seconds to make sure I was fully awake. I got back on the road and about 20 minutes in, I thought I had blinked. But when I opened my eyes, I was on the other side of the road almost in the fields. I was 20 feet away from hitting a tree. I thank God for being with me and that no one else was on the road at the time. Because I didn’t take 43 Key Sconds or longer to make sure I ok to get back on the road, I could have been severely injured, or I could have died that day.
I have also learned to use 43 Key Seconds in different situations other than driving. I have learned to have a clear head, clear hands, and clear eyes in difficult circumstances. I don’t use all three in the same but each one works in different conditions. Any time I get ready to take a big test, I take 43 Key Seconds to clear my head, stretch and anything else I need to do before I begin.
As an ambassador for safe driving, I strive to share what the 43 Key Seconds safe driving initiative has done for me. I will continue to carry my 43 Key Seconds lanyard everywhere I go. And as I continue my education at Enterprise State Community College to become a Music Instructor, I hope to tell my future students the Legacy of Philip Lutzenkirchen and how he has impacted me. I am very thankful that the Lutzie 43 Foundation and the Lutzenkirchen family allowed me to become an ambassador of a foundation that will continue to change the lives of the future generations.
