Dreams, no matter how big or small, define our ambitions and shape our future. My name is Cooper Irwin and ever since I was a little kid, my dream was to become a mechanical engineer. From a young age, I was fascinated by inventing and problem-solving. In elementary school, I was part of the inventing club and competed in Invent Idaho, where I designed and presented my own creation. Although I didn’t win, the experience ignited my passion for innovation and engineering. It taught me that success isn’t always about winning but about learning, improving, and pushing forward. This early exposure to creative problem-solving laid the foundation for my desire to pursue a career in engineering.
One defining moment in my journey happened when I tried to fix my broken bicycle as a kid. Instead of asking for help, I took it apart piece by piece, determined to understand how it worked. I confidently reassembled it, only to realize I had put the chain on incorrectly and the pedals wouldn’t turn. Frustrated but not ready to give up, I turned to my dad for help. He immediately saw what I had done wrong and walked me through fixing it. Even though I hadn’t gotten it right the first time, I felt a lot of pride for fixing my bike. That experience reinforced my love for mechanics and problem-solving, showing me that mistakes are just stepping stones to learning and improvement.
The first step in reaching my dream is through education. I plan to graduate high school with an associate’s degree through North Idaho College, giving me a strong academic foundation. In the fall, I will attend the University of Idaho to pursue a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. Engineering requires both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, so I plan to seek internships, research opportunities, and hands-on projects that, combined with the University of Idaho's reputable engineering program, will set me up for success.
Beyond academics, leadership and community involvement are integral to my growth. My experiences as a swim team captain, tennis coach, and volunteer have taught me the value of teamwork, mentorship, and perseverance. As a leader, I support and uplift those around me, encouraging them to push beyond their limits just as I push beyond mine. These qualities will serve me well in engineering, where collaboration and problem-solving are essential in designing solutions that improve lives.
One of my aspirations is to use my engineering skills to contribute to projects that enhance infrastructure, energy efficiency, or technology that benefits communities. Engineers play a crucial role in shaping the world, from developing sustainable energy solutions to creating safer transportation systems. By pursuing my dream, I hope to find personal fulfillment and also give back to society, ensuring my work has a lasting impact.
Daniel’s words, “Complete Your Dream,” remind me that every step toward my goal matters. Through dedication, perseverance, and a commitment to lifelong learning, I will turn my dream into a reality, one that benefits both myself and those around me.
My name is Chloe Sams, and on this fateful day of November 12, 2024, I was looking for scholarships to apply for. I found the "Daniel R. Torres Complete Your Dream" scholarship. Initially, when I saw this, I laughed a little. Complete your dream. What does that mean? I know it says complete your dream, but what is my dream? If you were to ask me this a couple of years ago, I would have had no idea what I would say. I would probably say my dream would be just to be happy. But today, when I read Complete Your Dream, I smile because I know my dream. My dream is to help people. I see many people say that they want to help people. But I genuinely mean it when I say I want to help people. There was a time when I had no one to help me. I was wholly and utterly alone. This loneliness led me to try and attempt to commit suicide. It did not work out, obviously, and I'm so happy I did not die that night. But that moment in my life where I was completely lost and had died inside, that moment gave life to something new. In that darkness, there was light, a hope for something more. What if I could use these awful moments to help others? And that was how my dream was born.
I want to help people by being a clinical psychologist. Throughout my last three years of school, I have already started the steps needed to become a clinical psychologist. Starting in my sophomore year, I began taking any psychology class I could take. Most of them were dual credit classes so I could get ahead in college because there are a lot of steps I have to take to fulfill my dream. The second step is to go to college, major in psychology, and minor in pre-med. I can get my license to be a therapist at the university I want to attend, Westmont University in California. After this, I will return to school and get my master's, specializing in clinical psychology.
In most cases, when it comes to psychology degrees, you can get your master's and Psy.D simultaneously. A Psy.D is a Docter of Psychology. So after I get that, you can call me Docter Sams. There are a lot of steps to obtain my degree. Years of my life will go to my dream. I want to help as many people as I can. I want to make a difference in their lives. I want to offer to every patient that I help hope that their life will get better, they will get happier, and they can function in society. I know what it feels like not to have hope. It is miserable. I want to help people have hope because I know how easy it is to convince yourself that you have no future in this world when you have your entire life ahead of you, filled with endless opportunities. This is the care I want my patients to have. This is the impact I want to have on the people around me. I do not wish to die famous or rich. I want to die knowing that I did all I could for people like me. That is what completing my dream would look like. Thank you for your time.
Hi, I am Lanie Carter I have lived in Coeur d’Alene Idaho, my whole life. I attended Lake City High School. I have been a part of the Lake City Golf team for the past four years and the Student Council for the past two years. I am very involved within the school and community I enjoy helping out the community and planning events for the students in our school. I love helping out the students building relationships with them and getting their opinions on what needs to change in our schools and what would make schools more enjoyable and less stressful affecting students' mental health. I have been a part of putting on a mental health awareness week that brings in people from the community to talk to students in need during their lunches and it seems to help students reach out more for help and support for anything that might be happening in their lives. School is not just for learning it is for the relationships you build.
My dream is to become a school counselor. The steps to become a school counselor are to attend secondary schooling. I will be attending Boise State University, I will be attending there for the first four years to obtain a degree in psychology to help further my education and continue to get my masters in counseling. This will take me six years of college and a lot of time and money to complete my goals of helping out the community by helping out students in need, helping them with academic success and or mental health issues that are keeping them from achieving academic success. This will benefit me and the people in the community by providing help for young students who are having trouble with mental health helping these students could even benefit their parents and bring light to mental illnesses and get everyone in the community the help they need so nobody goes unseen, and there is help for everyone even if they don’t want the help. Mental health has been a big thing for my family and friends so I dream that nobody goes unseen or unheard and I want to help so this is the best thing that I thought of to help out my family, friends, and community by bringing the light to our community and this is one of the best ways to complete my dream is being the help our community needs. I hope to bring light to mental health while I complete my dream.
How to complete your dream when things don't go as planned.
Both my parents pursued higher education; my mother earned her BA as a triple major. My father, however, encountered obstacles during college and chose to discontinue his studies without a degree. He was later diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD, shedding light on the difficulties he experienced. The limitations of the 1990s education system, which failed to adapt to his needs, haunted my father. Despite his success in other areas, the absence of a college degree has impacted him professionally. Therefore, he has long stressed the importance of completing college and earning a degree.
I've been fortunate not to have the same challenges my father had growing up (I'm ranked 6th out of 319 students in my class at Lake City High School in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, carry a 4.175 weighted GPA, was named Kiwanis Student of the Month, and formally recognized as an Idaho Top Scholar). Yet I, too, discovered that life's obstacles can serve as catalysts for necessary change. My dad's obstacle was his ADHD and learning disability; mine was a mysterious injury disrupting a carefully outlined plan for college: to attend university with a combination of athletic and academic scholarships, graduate debt-free, and travel the world.
As anticipated, my injury required me to take time off to recover. The resulting hiatus became an unexpected opportunity to branch out and explore my identity beyond my sport. Unfortunately, recovery didn't go as planned, and my injury was career-ending. Since athletic dollars are no longer available (I had to turn down two NCAA Division I scholarships), I must capitalize on my academic achievements and leadership skills to help with the cost of my education and complete my dream.
Stepping away from swimming shifted my plans significantly. While it hasn't been easy, I resolve to break free from my comfort zone and make decisions aligned with dreams outside the sport I love. And, while the allure of a one-way ticket to a mesmerizing beach on the other side of the planet is strong, I recognize the need to take steps to secure a prosperous future to make my dream a reality.
Besides its tropical location, I chose the University of Hawaii at Manoa for several reasons. Among them, its diversity. Having one's eyes open to different cultures, ways of life, and outlooks on the natural world lends to more understanding and an open mindset. Frankly, well-traveled people are better world citizens.
Furthermore, at UH Manoa, I can pursue my love for water through surfing and paddleboarding while working towards a degree in Marketing with a minor in Marine Biology. I chose marketing because it aligns with my personal skill set and the flexibility it offers for remote work, and marine biology because of my love of all things water-related.
My mother has worked remotely most of my life and is significantly more present as a parent and mentor than my peers experience within their families. She adores her career as a corporate marketer and has shared aspects of her work with me that align with my interests, which would make it possible to work and travel simultaneously.
In truth, my injury became a blessing in disguise, leading to a profound and much-needed physical and mental reset. The journey from a swim-centered existence to one driven by a desire for a fulfilling career and world travel has been transformative, proving that obstacles, even in disguise, can lead to unexpected and rewarding paths.
Hadley House
23 May 2024
My dream
I learned to tie my dad’s shoes before I learned to tie my own. A fairly simple task, I learned it quickly despite being only four years old at the time; but, for my dad, it was not a “simple task.” Like most, my dad grew up tying his own shoes, however, that would change when he turned twenty. On January 5, 1989, my dad left for a ski trip to Utah. One rock and one wrong move is all it took to alter his life forever. My dad broke his neck that day and has lived his life since as a quadriplegic. Despite this drastic change and challenge in his life, my dad went on to become a successful physician. As his daughter, I have been able to see firsthand the array of amazing inventions that have enabled him to live a fulfilling and prosperous life despite his limitations. Life as a quadriplegic has transformed significantly over the past fifty years thanks to products of biomedical engineering and research. However, I also see the daily struggles my dad still faces due to his disability–things that are common, such as tying his shoes, to much more drastic things, such as constant leg tremors and phantom leg pains– and it is evident that there is still much room for improvement. This is why I dream of pursuing a career in biomedical engineering.
Being a biomedical engineer would allow me the opportunity to improve, and make an impact on the quality of life of individuals such as my father. There is so much one can do in a career in biomedical engineering from manufacturing prosthetics to tissue engineering, etc.. The possibilities are endless, and so are the ways to impact my community. As a daughter of a quadriplegic, I know that no disability works the exact same or requires the same accommodations as another. I hope I can help make life easier and more accessible for as many people of any/ all disabilities, sicknesses, or limitations, and getting my degree at Montana State University would allow me to make a difference in these communities.
Being able to attend college is the first step towards this dream and would not only allow me to pursue a journey of personal growth and academic growth, but it would also allow me to translate my aspirations into real-life contributions to society. I plan to get my bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering as well as help with undergrad research at Montana State University which would allow me to graduate ready to begin my journey as a biomedical engineer. College would allow me to develop the skills, knowledge, and resources I need to help others like my dad and improve the quality of life for many individuals. It is not merely obtaining a degree, it’s about gaining the tools and experiences necessary to help make an impact in society. Being able to attend college provides anyone with a supportive environment to collaborate with others, engage in research, learn how to think critically, and get practical experience in the field one is pursuing. All of these opportunities would allow me a chance to become a well rounded biomedical engineer, and with this education, I hope to be able to honor my father’s journey by helping others with disabilities of any kind.
