Fuiava Engineering Scholarship

I remember this one time when I was just sitting there, watching my family member go through some tough stuff with their mental health. No one really talked about it, we all acted like things were normal. That hit me hard, more than any class or book ever did. It made me see how you have to be patient and really try to understand people, even when its uncomfortable. Stories like that, from real life or whatever, they change how I look at everything. Books pull me in because they don't give simple fixes; they make you think about the hard parts, like stories about people dealing with pain and bouncing back, or figuring out what's right. I think that's what real life is, full of not knowing for sure. Growth comes from that messiness, I guess, instead of just pointing fingers. It makes me want to do medicine, but not the cold science kind, more like something that involves listening to people and caring about them as people. Mental health stuff has been around me a lot, quietly shaping things. Ive had my own moments, and seen it in family too. Pain like that can hide so easily, no one notices. Compassion matters a ton there, especially since you cant see it. It reminds me people arent just about what they do or achieve. In friendships, Ive gotten better at being patient because of it. For my future, it pushes me toward work where you need empathy just as much as facts. Coming from Filipino roots, family means everything, like sacrifice and pushing through. Being the oldest, I learned to look out for my siblings early on. My parents gave up so much for us to go to college, hoping it would lead to better chances. I want to pay that back by going into medicine, helping communities that get ignored, ones with no easy access to health care or support for mental health. Philosophy draws me because it lets me question things without needing all the answers. In my culture, we focus on respect and how everyone connects. Ive always wondered about my actions and others. What makes life worth it? How to help without burning out. Those thoughts mix into how I see science or helping people. Health inequality bugs me, especially mental health in places without resources. Stigma keeps people away from help. I've seen it. Early on in my path, but I hope to push for care that's open and fits cultures, treating mind stuff like body issues. Not just for me, but to make real shifts. My education feels bigger than a paper; it's about learning to hear out, fix, and give back. All these stories and tough spots Ive seen, the questions still nagging me, they lead toward something with heart and thought. It seems like responsibility ties it all.

When visiting my parents’ homeland last summer, the island of Samoa, I noticed a big problem. There were lots of plantations but not enough production and labor to tend to the land. The impact of not having the necessary labor to harvest the crops, caused the fields to rot and have severe erosion and soil degradation. This would cause significant economic loss and a failure to meet supply and demands, potentially increasing food prices and causing food insecurity for the villagers. My solution to helping the island would be to first take care of the labor shortage. With most of the younger generation moving off island to find work, I would use robotics such as self-driving harvesters and tractors on the fields to help tend to the land. Then I would use soil sensors and drones to gather information about the moisture and nutrients in the soil. In the end, the problems would be solved using my computer science knowledge and skills. Being a dual-sport student athlete at my school, I take pride in the way I carry myself, the effort I put forth, and the support I give to others. Being a leader does not mean that you must speak loudly to be heard or must be the center of attention to be seen. I like to lead in silence. I like to have my actions speak for me. I like to lead by example. Being selected to serve on the Student Summit (student government), I am the voice for my peers. I represent them during meetings with our school administrators on important matters. During these meetings, I help find solutions for problems that are happening on campus and share what the student body enjoys and appreciates. I set the standard high by doing my best in the classroom, pushing myself in the weight room, and keeping a positive attitude no matter what the situation. As a leader on my sports teams, I strive to make time for my teammates and to be there when they need me. I make it an effort to let them know that they can come to me with anything and I will try my best to help them. I make sure everyone feels welcome and included. I make sure to be respectful to my peers, teachers, coaches and school administrators. Building a better community on campus is not only about pep rallies, school dances, or music concerts, but also about the small things one can do to make others feel included, welcomed, and appreciated. I represent my school with much pride knowing that I am not only representing myself but am a representation of my parents, coaches, teachers and mentors. My hope is that I have been an example to my fellow peers and that they will do the same in contributing to making our campus community a better place to be. My dream is to become an Engineer. A dreamer of dreams, a creator of things, a solver of problems within the world. I plan to create, build, invent and solve problems. My mission will be to connect the world, to weave the many different nations into one fine mat! I will use my degree to find solutions to global problems (climate change, cybersecurity, vaccine development, etc.) I also plan to partner with mechanical engineering firms in building and creating new technology from designing and programming robots and drones, to developing software for medical devices, smart appliances, and automotive electronics. My goal is to be part of the solution in helping the world become a more efficient place for every person today!