Bick Vocational/Trade School Scholarship

I was inspired to pursue a trade because I have always been drawn to hands-on work and problem-solving. From a young age, I found satisfaction in fixing, building, and creating tangible results, and I realized that a career in the trades would allow me to combine skill, creativity, and practicality to make a meaningful impact. I enjoy the challenge of figuring out solutions, learning new techniques, and seeing the immediate results of my work. More than that, I saw the trades as a path to build a stable future and an opportunity to set a positive example for my community. My journey has not been without obstacles. I faced significant challenges, including a period of incarceration, which disrupted my life and made it difficult to envision a positive future. During that time, my mental health was tested, and I struggled with isolation and uncertainty. Returning to school required resilience, determination, and a commitment to personal growth. I had to rebuild my confidence, refocus on my goals, and learn how to balance education with personal responsibilities. Overcoming these obstacles has strengthened my character, taught me perseverance, and given me a deeper understanding of the value of hard work and discipline. My goals are to continue developing my skills in maintenance, electrical work, and other trades, earn certifications, and eventually start my own business. I also want to give back to my community by mentoring young people and others who face setbacks, showing them that it is possible to rebuild your life and pursue a meaningful career. Skilled work matters because it provides stability, solves real-world problems, and contributes to the well-being of communities. It is not just a job—it is a craft that builds confidence, independence, and pride in one’s work. This scholarship would help me continue my education by covering the costs of tuition, tools, and training materials, allowing me to focus on learning and advancing my career without the constant worry of financial barriers. It would give me the resources to gain the certifications and hands-on experience needed to excel in my chosen field and to transform my experiences into opportunities to inspire and support others. I am proud of the journey I am on and the progress I have made. My experiences have taught me that obstacles can be turned into opportunities, that growth comes from perseverance, and that success is measured not only by personal achievement but also by the impact we have on others. Pursuing a career in the trades allows me to build a future I can be proud of while giving back and showing that it is always possible to change your life around.

Being a first-generation college student means everything in the world to me. My name is Martiana Lumbus, and even my name reminds me of who I am—unique, uncommon, and someone who stands out in her own way. My name gives me confidence, and being the first in my family to pursue higher education gives me purpose. It means breaking cycles, opening doors, and building a future that the generations before me didn’t have the chance to create. My journey has not been easy. Losing my mother to gun violence and having my father go to jail a month later changed my life forever. Those moments were traumatic and painful, but they also lit a fire in me. They taught me that I have to work twice as hard, not only for myself but for the family members who still depend on me. My motivation comes from wanting more—more stability, more opportunity, and more success than the circumstances I was born into. I want to be someone my future children can look up to, someone my siblings can lean on, and someone who turns hurt into strength. Being a first-generation student means I am willing to dream bigger than my challenges. I have many dreams because I refuse to limit myself. I already hold a Film and Media Arts degree, and at 24 years old, I am proud of how far I’ve come. But I also know I want to build stability for my future, so I am studying cosmetology and esthetics to create businesses I can eventually pass down to my kids one day. I want to set up a strong foundation with an LLC, business insurance, and a business 401(k) plan so my work can grow even when I’m no longer physically able to do hair or skincare services. I also dream of becoming an ultrasound technician. It is a career that would give me consistent income, something to rely on as I get older, while my business investments and retirement plans build in the background. I want a life that allows me to take care of myself, my future family, and the family I have now who are struggling. I want to break generational patterns and create generational wealth. This scholarship would help me move closer to those goals. It would allow me to pay for school, invest in my education, and get the proper training I need to build the future I’m working so hard for. Winning this award would not solve everything, but it would give me a real start—a chance to breathe, focus, and invest in the dreams I’ve laid out for myself. I am not perfect, and my life has been far from easy, but I have heart, determination, and a clear sense of purpose. I want more for myself and my family, and being a first-generation student is my first step toward rewriting my future. This scholarship would help me continue that journey.

Choosing a career in the skilled trades wasn’t just a decision for me — it was a survival choice. I grew up learning how to make something out of nothing, stay strong even when things felt unstable, and keep going when life was heavy. I didn’t come from money or privilege, but I came from resilience, and that pushed me toward a future where I could build stability with my own hands. As a Black woman entering the trades, I often feel like I am entering spaces not designed with me in mind. There are days I feel out of place, underestimated, or invisible, but deep down, I know I belong here. I am not just trying to break into this field — I am trying to break generational barriers. I want to be proof that girls like me can work with their hands, master technical skills, and build powerful careers. The obstacles I've faced haven’t only been academic or financial. They have been emotional. I've had to fight moments of self-doubt, fear, and the pressure of wanting more for my future than what I've seen growing up. I've carried the weight of wondering if I'm doing enough, choosing the right path, or if anyone will see my potential. Still, I show up. I keep studying. I keep trying. What drives me is simple but powerful: I want independence. I want to build a life where I don’t feel trapped by circumstances or limited by fear. I want to be able to take care of myself, provide for my future, and stand confidently on my own. I want stability, pride in my work, and a future I can control. Learning a trade empowers me to shape my own path and create a life that feels secure and meaningful. This scholarship would mean more than just financial support. It would lift a financial burden and allow me to be fully present in my education. Instead of constantly worrying about how I will afford this training, I could focus on sharpening my skills and showing up every day with confidence and motivation. Skilled work matters because behind every safe building, every working system, and every protected space is someone who cared enough to do it right. I want to be that person. I want people to be safer because I chose not to give up. I am proud of my journey, not just because of where I am now, but because of what it took to get here. Every obstacle I faced taught me resilience. Every setback taught me patience. I am not just learning a trade — I am building a future that breaks cycles and opens doors. I carry the responsibility of being a role model, not only for myself but for other young women watching and wondering if they can do it too. I am ready to work hard and represent my community with pride. I am not just chasing a career — I am building a legacy.

My inspiration for pursuing HVAC trade work comes from a truth I learned growing up in Broward County, Florida: air conditioning is not a luxury, it is a lifeline. I have watched families struggle when systems break down and seen how essential skilled technicians are to keeping homes safe. As a first-generation student from a Jamaican family, I watched my mother work twelve-hour days, with income split to support my three siblings in Jamaica and me here. Seeing the limits my parents faced without education or trade credentials made me determined to build a different future and gain in-demand skills that let me provide for my family faster. The obstacles I have faced mirror those of many vocational students. Financial hardship makes trade school and certifications feel overwhelming. As a first-gen student, I have had to research programs and financial aid on my own because my parents never had these opportunities. I have doubted whether I could do this, but I have turned frustration into determination, using every resource I can find and relying on the self-reliance that has become my strength. My goals are clear: become a certified HVAC technician and eventually start my own HVAC business. I am pursuing trade school for certifications, vocational programs for hands-on training, and college courses for business fundamentals. This mix will give me technical expertise and business knowledge. HVAC work is always in demand, especially in Florida, which means job security and a faster path to supporting my family. I also volunteer as a theater tech aid at Dillard High School, operating sound and lighting boards, which has strengthened my technical skills and shown me how much I enjoy hands-on work. I believe skilled work matters because it is the backbone of our communities. Electricians keep our lights on, mechanics keep our vehicles running, and HVAC technicians keep our homes comfortable and safe. These careers deserve respect because they make the world function. Skilled trades provide pathways to self-sufficiency without requiring four-year degrees, offering immediate earning potential, valuable expertise, and opportunities for entrepreneurship and community impact. This scholarship would remove the financial barriers that could keep me from completing trade school and earning my HVAC certifications. With this support, I can focus on training instead of worrying about cost, finish my certifications, gain experience, and start building the career that leads to the self-sufficient life I have envisioned. It validates that choosing the trades is valuable and will help me show my family and community that vocational education opens doors to stability, success, and meaningful contribution.

My name is Alex Diggs, and I am a 30-year-old woman whose life has been shaped by both loss and responsibility. My father passed away when I was just two years old, leaving my mother, a Portuguese immigrant, to raise five children—two of whom have chronic illnesses—on her own. Growing up, I learned early that life could be unpredictable and demanding. By the age of 15, I had become financially responsible for myself, balancing work, school, and family obligations. These experiences taught me resilience, determination, and the importance of caring for others—lessons that now guide my path toward a career in nursing. I am drawn to the field of Licensed Vocational Nursing because it allows me to combine my compassion with practical, hands-on skills that make a real difference in people’s lives. Nursing is more than a career to me; it is a calling. I have seen firsthand how essential care and support are, not only in my own family but in the lives of countless individuals who rely on skilled professionals for comfort, healing, and dignity. Every day in this profession presents the opportunity to ease suffering, provide reassurance, and make tangible improvements in someone’s health and quality of life. That purpose fuels my passion and motivates me to excel in my training. The path to this goal has not been easy. Financial hardships, family responsibilities, and the demands of self-sufficiency have been constant companions. Yet, rather than discouraging me, these obstacles strengthened my resolve. I learned to manage time wisely, persevere through challenges, and maintain focus on my long-term goals. Every sacrifice—every late night of studying or extra shift at work—has been an investment in my future as a skilled, compassionate nurse. My goal is to complete my LVN program with excellence, gain confidence in my clinical skills, and build a career where I can provide meaningful care to patients who need it most. Skilled work matters because it touches lives directly; a nurse’s knowledge, patience, and dedication can change a day, a prognosis, or even a life. I want to be the kind of nurse who embodies competence, empathy, and reliability—someone who patients and families can trust. Receiving this scholarship would be life-changing. It would allow me to focus on my education without the constant weight of financial stress, and it would affirm the sacrifices I’ve made and the resilience I bring to my work. Most importantly, it would bring me one step closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a Licensed Vocational Nurse—transforming my personal challenges into a career of purpose and service. I am proud of my journey, and I am ready to dedicate myself fully to this path. Nursing is not just a profession for me; it is the culmination of my experiences, my compassion, and my determination to make a difference in the world. Thank you so much for your consideration and I do hope this essay will allow me to be able to successfully finish my program with out any Finacial worries.

My choice to pursue a trade in cybersecurity was shaped by one of the most difficult moments of my life. I survived a near-death domestic violence incident — in front of my 13-month-old son. That day forced me to relocate, leave everything familiar, and rebuild from nothing. I carried both the trauma of that experience and the urgent responsibility to create a safe, stable future for my child. My son is my greatest inspiration. He motivates me to strive, thrive, and push past every obstacle. I want to give him a life defined by peace, security, and opportunity — and I want him to see that even in the face of adversity, it is possible to rise stronger. Cybersecurity appealed to me because it mirrors my own journey. At its core, it is about protecting others — safeguarding systems, defending against threats, and preventing harm. Just as I fought to protect myself and my son, I now want to use my skills to protect others in the digital world. Houston Community College’s program offers the hands-on, real-world training I need to make that vision a reality. The road here has not been easy. Relocating meant starting over without a strong support system, facing financial instability, and balancing parenting with the demands of school. There were times when exhaustion and uncertainty felt overwhelming. Still, I refused to give up. I learned to budget carefully, seek out available resources, and lean on a small but reliable network of support. Each class I complete strengthens my determination to succeed. Skilled work like cybersecurity is vital in today’s world. Technology touches every part of our lives, and with it comes the need for skilled professionals to keep systems safe. Cybersecurity is not just about computers — it’s about trust, stability, and protection. I am committed to becoming a professional who provides that security. This scholarship would make a significant difference. It would ease the financial strain, allowing me to focus fully on my studies and skill development. More than that, it would be an investment in the future I am building for my son — one where he grows up in an environment of stability, peace, and prosperity. My journey has taught me resilience, purpose, and the importance of using my skills to help others. With the support of this scholarship, I can take the next step toward a career that changes lives — starting with my own family’s.