Beyond the Blue & White Outstanding Student Award

Below you can read the winning essays. As the essays were all handwritten, the formatting, spelling, and grammar have all been preserved as best as possible.

 Olton is a great place to live because everyone comes together as one big family during the hard times. My hometown may be small, but it’s an amazing and great place to call home. What truly makes it special is the strong sense of community. We are a strong tight-knit town where people genuinely care about one another. When someone is going through a difficult time, others step in without hesitation to offer help, support, and encouragement. That kind of compassion is not something you find everywhere, and it is one of the things I love most about where I live.

Another reason my hometown stands out is our school system. Our schools are not only well kept and welcoming but they are also filled with kind and dedicated staff members who truly care about their students. Teachers, administrators, and staff work hard to make a place that is a positive environment that makes sure that the students get everything they need for an amazing future career. The teachers also make sure that they get all the love and support for not only an amazing future career, but an awesome life where they can stand strong when something appears in the way.

Our community is also blessed with strong youth ministries that help guide, encourage, and bring together the younger generation. These programs provide a sense of belonging and help create a good character that has faith, and friendships that will last a lifetime.  The people in these ministries play a big role in shaping who we are.

Although we are a small town, we are fortunate to have great local businesses that meet our everyday needs. From shops to services, everything we need is close by. We are also very lucky to have great tasting restaurants where we can gather and enjoy food.

One of the most exciting parts of living in my hometown is the support for sports and livestock shows. No matter the season or the event, the stands and show arenas are never empty. Families, friends, and neighbors show up or cheer each other on, whether it is at a game or in the show ring. The encouragement and pride seen at livestock shows reflect the hard work and responsibilities that have great dedication of the youth in our community. That level of love and support shows how much we care about one another.

In conclusion, what makes my hometown such a special place to live is not just the schools, businesses, or events, it is the people. The kindness, support, and sense of belonging make it truly a magical place where it’s not just a dot on the map, but a loving community that makes you feel like family.

 If I were to open up a business in Olton, TX it would be a farmers market. It would benefit local Olton people, bring people from surrounding towns, and bring customers to Olton Businesses and make profit for them as well. The event would be hosted every other Saturday of the year. The host of the event would get a small percentage of what the farmers and local people make.

This brings me to my first reason why I would open up a Farmer’s Market. It would draw people in from surrounding towns and locals to sell their products to the community. The products would include fresh eggs, milk, fruits, vegetables, honey, and farm raised meat. People could also bring homemade food from their own kitchens to sell.

Second, if I were to open up a Farmers Market in Olton, TX the visitors may want something to eat for lunch or dinner. For example, Olton restaurants like Anna’s, Rejino’s, and Pizza Parlor would make good profits from the customers. This would bring more people in to help all our local businesses.

This brings me to my final reason I would open a Farmer’s Market in Olton, TX. A small percentage of the profits that the sellers make would go to the host of the Farmer’s Market. The host must pay for the rent of the building or tax of the property. It would be hosted every other Saturday of the year. This would make sure that everyone is successful and making money so their products have time to grow.

In conclusion, If I were to open up a Farmers Market in Olton, TX it would bring more income to local farmers, bring profit to Olton businesses, and finally it would be a way to make money every other Saturday of the year which would give time for the Farmers to grow and supply their booth in the future events.

In the next five to ten years, I hope to be working as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, providing compassionate care to those facing mental health challenges. This goal stems from my academic interests and my growing passion to better understand healthcare, empathy, and a human’s resilience.

When I was younger, I became drawn to learning about the human mind and the complexities of behavior. I was especially fascinated with understanding why people think and act the way they do, and how mental health can influence every aspect of a person’s life. Over time, that curiously grew into a passion not only to understand others, but help guide them through their struggles.

This interest continues to influence my academic choices as I prepare to attend Texas Tech University this fall as a pre-nursing major. Over the next few years, I plan to complete my prerequisite courses while also developing skills like time management, organization, and resilience required to succeed in a new academic environment. I also intend to participate in sorority recruitment, where I hope to build connections and contribute to philanthropic events and efforts that serve others. These experiences will help shape me into a responsible person and a future healthcare professional.

After completing my prerequisites, I plan to apply to the Texas Tech School of Nursing, where I will pursue my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Through this program, I will gain both the clinical knowledge and hands on experience that is necessary to care for patients in the best way possible. I am especially interested in developing critical thinking skills, learning to work collaboratively with more diverse groups, and understanding how to maintain a balance between my emotions and my professional involvement.

Following graduation, I hope to work in a mental health hospital or treatment center, where I can gain direct experience supporting individuals dealing with mental health conditions. Mental health is an area of healthcare that is often misunderstood and stigmatized, yet it affects countless individual’s every day. I want to be a part of changing that narrative by providing care that is not only clinically effective, but also empathetic and judgment free.

With this experience, I plan to further my education and become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. In this role, I will be able to assess, diagnose, and treat patients while also advocating for greater awareness and acceptance of mental health issues. I am particularly interested in the role that genetics and environment play into mental health, and I hope to use that knowledge to better understand and support my patients.

Ultimately, over the next decade, I hope to grow into a healthcare professional who makes a lasting impact, who not only treats my patients, but truly listens to them. My goal is to create a safe and supportive environment where individuals feel comfortable seeking help without fear of judgement. By combining my passion for mental health with empathy and dedication, I am committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.