The smell of hot bread at the Farmers’ Market, sunsets at the Memorial Union Terrace, and “Jump Around” at Camp Randall — these are the memories of my childhood, the feeling of home. Madison is all I have ever known. Since the age of four, I sat in Section U with my grandpa cheering for the Badgers on Saturdays. Unbelievably, now my feet are planted on the large Motion W as the roar of the crowd erupts at kickoff. Madison is not only where I grew up; it is the place I will forever call home.
Growing up in neighboring Verona, I played nearly every sport imaginable, but football always stood above the rest. Beyond my passion for sports, I was a kid filled with curiosity and a knack for problem solving. Known for being highly observant, I always valued opportunities to bring my ideas to fruition. Eventually, I graduated high school with a newfound appreciation for the relationship side of business, and a desire to channel my creativity as an entrepreneur. Similar to the plot of a movie script, I continued my athletic career at the place I only dreamed of attending; The place closest to home.
Home was being raised in a tight-knit family anchored in faith. Faith has played an important role in my life, instilling in me the value of service and placing others’ needs ahead of my own. Early on, I engaged with Madison-based organizations through my church, including Porchlight Men’s Shelter and The Road Home Dane County, a commitment that deepened throughout my undergraduate years. Consistent involvement with Badgers Give Back, a student-athlete outreach program, helped me create deeper-level partnerships with community leaders. I continue to find purpose in giving back to the community I was raised in, hoping to transform the typical mold of an athlete. Engaging with the UW Health American Family Children’s Hospital, local elementary schools, and community centers has sparked my passion for mission-driven work.
After graduating from the Wisconsin School of Business this past May with a degree in Management and Entrepreneurship, I faced a cross-roads. I could have pursued my MBA but I was compelled to step out of my comfort zone and explore leveraging creativity to help others. The answer was clear: Become a Bolzie. This program, MA-Business: Arts and Creative Enterprise Leadership is the bridge to my quest for mission-driven work. It will enable me to channel my creativity to contribute toward the missions of the non-profit sector.
The Bolz Center is now part of home. Home I will eventually leave, but it’s a part of me wherever life takes me. As my life evolves, I feel honored to say it is a place I can always return to. Looking to my post-graduate aspirations, I will explore what the rest of the world has to offer. I will climb mountains, sail the seas, and everything in between. I will live a life of service, grounded in the knowledge that the feeling of home is always within me. On Wisconsin!
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