Appalachian Region Vocational Scholarship

From the moment I first saw a welder at work, I was captivated. The sparks flying, the intense glow of the torch, and the transformation of raw metal into something new and purposeful, it was like watching a magician. This initial fascination sparked a curiosity that led me to choose welding as my career path. Welding is not just about joining pieces of metal together. It's an art form, a science, and a critical part of our society's infrastructure. It's the invisible force that holds our world together, from the cars we drive to the buildings we live and work in. I chose welding because it allows me to play a part in creating and maintaining the world around us. The field of welding offers a unique combination of hands-on work and intellectual challenge. It requires a deep understanding of materials, physics, and engineering principles, as well as a steady hand and a keen eye for detail. These aspects of the profession appealed to my love for learning and my desire for a career that would keep me engaged and challenged. But my decision to pursue welding was not driven by interest alone. I saw in this field an opportunity to make a significant impact. Through my welding career, I plan to focus on sustainable and efficient practices. My goal is to contribute to projects that prioritize eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient designs. In doing so, I hope to play a part in reducing the environmental impact of construction and manufacturing processes. Safety is another area where I plan to make a difference. The welding industry, like any other, has its risks. By advocating for safety measures and working towards the development of safer equipment, I aim to reduce workplace accidents and ensure the wellbeing of my fellow welders. Education is a powerful tool for change, and I intend to use it to make a difference in the welding industry. By sharing my knowledge and experiences, I hope to inspire and educate future generations of welders. I believe that by fostering a love for welding in others, we can ensure the continued growth and advancement of our industry. In addition, I plan to use my skills to give back to the community. Whether it's by helping to repair a local school or creating a piece of public art, I believe that welding can be a force for good. In conclusion, I chose welding because it combines my passion for creation with my desire to contribute positively to the world. Through sustainable practices, safety advocacy, and education, I plan to make a difference in my welding career. I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and am committed to making the most of them.

For as long as I am able to remember, my life has had structure. Paying extra close attention to the way I colored, making sure to never stray outside of the lines. Breaking my toys apart so that I may then reconstruct them. One of my fondest memories as a child was being able to sit and help my father with his projects. Whether it was putting together furniture or fixing broken appliances, anything he’d allowed me to assist with, even if it was just me holding a flashlight so that I could observe. The way in which the world operates has fascinated me since a child, it operates with the most complex structure I’ve ever witnessed. Although I wasn’t sure of which path to take as a child to better understand it, I’ve always known that I needed to do something to help humanity and the world as much as possible for others as well as my own sake. In my search for my own path in life, I discovered a love for technology. It all started with a coding class only for girls. We worked in teams and throughout the school year we were able to create a website for a non-profit organization. As side projects we would program robots using our own developed coding. It was through these assigned projects that I happened upon my passion for working with technology of all sorts. These classes lead to my own research, as well as the discovery of fluid power and my fixation of it. The structure and uniqueness of it opened a completely new world of possibilities that piqued my interest and influenced my decision in majoring in electromechanical engineering technology. My hopes have always been to make the world a better place in any way I am capable of. I’d love the opportunity to help as many people as I am able with the work and ideas I develop. If I’m able, my plans are to bring as much ease and peace as I possibly can through fluid power and technology. In doing so, I hope to gain the chance to better dissect the complexities of our structured world. My plan towards this goal is to obtain my bachelor’s degree in electromechanical engineering technology to then go on in pursuit of a career which allows my efforts and dedication to be of assistance in our realities. Above all else, I hope to be an example to the generations to come. I hope to show young children who may look like me or have grown up in similar situations as me that there in fact are hopes of doing whatever it is they dream of. That they should never let anyone, or anything hold them back. Currently, I’m a college student enrolled for my second year of college. I’ve been accepted into the National Society of Leadership and Success, with plans of using what I learn to become a better leader for generations to come. I’m a part of the Emerging Scholars Institute through Murray State, dedicated to assisting minority students throughout their academic career. I also take part in the NFPA as Chief Communications Officer and I participate on the Murray State dance team known as the Radiant Racerettes. All of these organizations promote my leadership skills and open many possibilities for me to be a better leader and better the world we all live in using fluid power and technology.