Minorities in STEM Scholarship

As long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with technology. As a little kid, I used to take apart my grandma's phone and put it back together, mess with my mother's computer, and play around with my PlayStation 2 to figure out exactly what made them work. This passion never faded. When I learned to code in 7th grade, it was like a switch flipped in my mind. I wasn't just able to use technology; I could create things with it, and from that moment on, I was hooked. Since then, I've been learning all types of things about technology, primarily coding. I've learned to program small pieces of games, think logically to come to solutions, and think differently from before. What I like about technology is the fact that it allows people to develop solutions to real-world issues, and I want to be a part of it. For that, I am studying technology. I want to take something I enjoy and make it a career, something that will also stimulate my mind and make it grow, and something that will allow me to contribute to something with meaning. A decade from now, I see myself as a senior-level software engineer. I see myself in the position of contributing to the creation of something impactful, whether applications, programs, or technology-enabled solutions for the general public. Beyond career development, though, there's a more personal motivation to excel in such a career. I come from a not-so-nice neighborhood in Southeastern Wisconsin. My upbringing has held me back, preventing me from having the same access to resources as others. I want to truly make a difference. If I become successful in my dreams, I want to give my success back to my community. Whether that means creating programs to expose children to coding, helping to fund the deliveries of supplies to schools, or simply being a mentor to someone who is going through the same struggles I have gone through, I want to be a positive force in someone else's life so they know that they too can accomplish it. I think the two-year degree is a great addition to my journey. It will provide the foundation of the technical knowledge I will need to be a software engineer, but it’s also a means of demonstrating to myself and others that I am serious and dedicated to putting in the work. Entering the two-year program means that I can establish a foundation of knowledge, gain some confidence, and move in the direction of obtaining a bachelor’s degree or joining the career world. It’s not necessarily about getting a job—it’s about creating something for myself and others. This scholarship would not only be monetary aid but also a vote of confidence in all that I am striving to accomplish. I am ready to demonstrate that where I am from will not determine where I am going.