Hi! I'm Natalie Stepanenko and I am 16 years old. I am currently a senior, class of 2017, at Lake Shore High School with a 3.98 GPA. . My favorite subjects are math and science. I play volleyball, basketball, and softball, all varsity. This year, I am a captain on all three teams. My favorite of the three is softball, which is my biggest passion in life. I am committed to play softball at Hillsdale College next year. It has taught me discipline, preparedness, and the importance of teamwork. Most people would describe me as smart, friendly, and athletic. My biggest goal in life is to make a difference. I have always loved helping people and changing lives. I strive to find a passion that satisfies both my own happiness and my desire to change the world and have a positive impact on the lives of others. Some career paths that I believe could help me achieve these goals would be medical research, epidemiology, genetics, or web design. One quote that guides me through life is "You have to want to succeed as much as you want to breathe" - anonymous. I love this quote because it makes you realize that your life can be important if you really strive to achieve them. My high school softball coach introduced me to this quote. He showed us a video after the last day of tryouts when he told us whether we made the team. It taught me that there are no such things as excuses: just obstacles.