It is a blessing to have been awarded opportunities to not only further my legacy but to carry on Philip Lutzenkirchen’s legacy through the Lutzie 43 Foundation’s Prepared for Life (PFL) Scholarship. With this scholarship, I have my heart set on earning a degree in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham with the sole purpose of using my God given talents to benefit others just as Philip did. Though I never knew Philip, I feel as if I did solely from the curriculum created by this wonderful foundation which I highly recommend to anyone. It is an understatement to say that the Safeguarding Your Legacy Curriculum has ultimately changed my outlook on who I want to become. It has established Philip Lutzenkirchen as a role model in my life whom I strive to honor by my actions each day.

Recently, I have seen the impact that a fatal car crash can have on an entire community when a young girl was killed in the town next to mine. I personally did not know her but I had friends who did, and seeing the outcry of despair, sadness, and the number of heavy hearted people affected by her loss caused the entire community to uproar in mourning.

Though it is unknown if she was distracted driving, seeing the devastation caused by car crashes has immensely motivated me to advocate for distraction-free driving with the hopes that the number of crashes will be greatly reduced.

I feel greatly prepared to do so after learning what I have through the Lutzie 43 Foundation. As my life shifts from adolescence into adulthood, I feel I have a higher responsibility to keep my community safe, which I can do by educating those around me on the dangers of distracted, impaired and unsafe driving.

Given the opportunities the PFL Scholarship has given me, I expect that I will come in contact with a lot more like minded people who will impact the world with qualities of leadership, integrity, responsibility, all while remaining humble. I have the ability to grow in my own life towards what the future has in store for me knowing there is a community of people who are not only supporting me but holding me accountable.

I am jubilant to embark on my next steps before my career and I am looking forward to enjoying every second, good and bad. I hope I make an impact on those around me by building others up. I dream to fulfill my legacy while advocating for what I believe in. I hope to “Live Like Lutzie.”