The Prepared for Life (PFL) Scholarship is an amazing opportunity to share the wonderful lessons learned and inspire others to the true legacy Philip Lutzenkirchen left. Receiving this scholarship not only shows that people believe in me and the things I can do in life, but it also shows how important relationships are, and that no matter what the hard work you are doing will pay off. Receiving this scholarship doesn’t just mean you receive financial support, but that you are now connected to something bigger than yourself. You have people to help and people to rely on when you need assistance and a constant reminder that you are never alone. I grew up in a space where it was easy to feel alone. The foster system can be a lonely place; moving from place to place without a stable home life can leave you feeling like you’re never good enough.
Applying for the PFL Scholarship made me realize that there are always people looking after you and wanting to see you succeed in life. Applying for the scholarship may be a lengthy process, but when you actually look at it and pay attention, you begin to realize that the things that are being taught, you could apply them to your life. Things like; taking a few seconds to clear your head, remove any distractions, and evaluate your decisions. These are all key aspects to safe driving. Taking these few seconds, especially if someone else is in the car with you, is vital. This lesson gives you the platform to share the message. If someone asks “What are you doing” just let them know. Giving them a brief (or long) explanation as to why you choose to leave a little early to make sure you have everything in order to make sure you are safe on the road. There are too many fatal car crashes every day for me to have known this message and not share it. If it takes 43 seconds or 3 minutes to share this and keep someone else safe, the 3 minutes are worth it. Very few people realize the impact that they could have on someone’s life. Just a few small impactful words can change someone’s life, it let’s them know you are always there for them. The Safeguarding Your Legacy Curriculum changed my perspective on life and how much it means to be here and how important being safe on the road can be. Distracted driving is the #1 cause of fatal crashes and getting the opporutnity to share about the Lutzie 43 Foundation and save lives on the road we travel on every day is a blessing.
I am thankful for Philip Lutzenkirchen for the impact he continues to make on people’s lives. Thank you to Mr. Mike Lutzenkirchen for his platform to share this important message, to be safe, and to learn from other’s mistakes. Thank you for the opportunity and for pouring into my life as well as all the other young athletes and anyone else you continue to help. Thank you for your unwavering support and interest in my life. I thank you and your family for everything they have done for me and the love poured out to me throughout my time getting to know you and continue to express my support in your foundation and what it stands for. Receiving this scholarship means I get to continue my studies in business administration and the dream to become a real estate broker, also being in the military serving as a captain and one day leading my own team. A big dream and this is just a small step in the right direction. Receiving this scholarship shows no matter your circumstances, there is always a way to come up in life. To show you are more than people’s opinion, and you are worth more than even our selves realize. Dream big and make it happen. Nothing anyone says should affect your dream. Each individual person has a special trait or gift they can bring to the world and help better it. No one stands alone. You just have to take the opportunity given to you. Everyone deserves a little love whether they think so or not. So thank you to the Lutzie 43 fFundation for this incredible opportunity to share my story and to help others along the way.