My name is Cory.
I am a 16-year-old senior in high school.
I am currently attending the Tennessee's Governor's School for the Sciences and Engineering.
My likely majors in college are mathematics and physics.

For years I lived in darkness. I lived a life of depression and darkness, shut off from the world around me.
As time went on and I began to grow, several amazing people entered my life.
They taught me how to trust in God and to have the faith in things unseen that many lack.
Also, a few teachers of mine have mentored me and taught me that being a leader means stepping out in the public light.
By doing so, one opens himself up to the scrutiny of those around him.
However, a true leader faces this fact with courage and lives his life in a way that, despite the prying eyes, cannot be found at fault.

Thus I say here - today I am prepared to be a leader.
Last school year, my junior year, I was involved in Academic Decathlon.
I will say that that was by far the largest and toughest challenge I have ever faced.
Through it, though, I have learned that someone truly can change their life, their future;
not just through their accomplishments, as I have, but through so much more.

Life is made to be lived.
One cannot live in fear of the unknown or the uncontrollable.
Each person will, at some time, feel held down or unable to continue.
The strength, though, is there, in each of us.

The only difference between one person is the next is simply a question of...

FAITH