Reach For Your Future Scholarship

Pursuing a higher education means so much to me because it is a dream that I want to accomplish. I am a first-generation Mexican-American. I want to pursue higher education because my parents did not have the resources to do so. My parents come from a small town in Oaxaca, Mexico. They came to the United States to build a better way of living. Even though they did not go to school they tried to provide the best they could for me and my two sisters. I want to set an example for my younger sister, she is eight years old. I want her to see the hard work I have done and for her to want to do her best just as I am doing. I want to set an example for her and for generations to come. Pursuing a higher education is so important to me because I want to do something in my life. There have been many times when I have been emotionally let down because many people say, "You can't do it" or "You're not good enough." I want to show them that I can do it and that I am good enough. Pursuing a higher education means so much to me because I want to be the first person in my family to go to college. Ever since I was a child, I have always seen movies of people graduating and seeing those people on screen made me want to be just like them. I want this opportunity because it is something that will benefit me in life. I know that there are many jobs that pay well and that you do not need schooling but I want to put in the extra effort because I want to be an inspiration to low-income minority students. As a Mexican-American school is very important because of our parents not being able to make it past the 5th grade because of money. I do not want money to be an issue when wanting to go to college. If I am granted this generous scholarship, I know that it will help me achieve my career dreams. I am scared to go to college because I do not want to put financial pressure on my parents. My parents work hard enough but I want to become financially independent so that they will not have to worry about the cost of college. College is very expensive and that is why it is a hard dream to achieve. I have always wanted to go into Pre-Med Studies or Architectural Engineering. I am still undecided because I just enjoy both fields in different ways. Hopefully, you all will consider me when choosing the winner of this generous scholarship. I know that if I am given this scholarship I will put it to good use. If given this scholarship I will be closer to achieving my dreams.

As a female, I faced many hardships along my journey. During the robotics of my sixth-grade year, our coach wanted people to practice driving ㅡ I bravely volunteered. The entire class had eyes on me as I walked up to the starting line. I reached for the gray controller with flashing green lights. The controller felt heavy and uncomfortable in my small hands. I awkwardly pushed the worn-out gray joystick forward and backward. The robot jerked left and right on the ground. I tried grabbing the yellow star, a game element. It worked! I carefully raised the metal arms that held the yellow star like a precious dream coming true. The star fell out with a thud. Silence. My shoulders sank. My eyes fell to the floor. A couple of boys scoffed and snickered in the corner. You are just a girl. You cannot drive. The discrimination did not stop in middle school. Throughout my high school career, during tennis matches, boys would often scoff, “You just got beaten by a girl!” During tennis camps, I would often get looked down upon for being a girl. Spectators would raise their eyebrows and uncross their arms after they saw me play and win points. During robotics competitions, I would represent my team in the elimination selection. Other teams would often skip over me and choose a lower rank team represented by a male. The list goes on. That moment has continued to haunt me every time I sit in front of the steering wheel of my car. I got the same nervousness from the time I attempted to drive a robot. I take a deep breath before starting the engine. Although I still have not entirely overcome the traumatic experience from sixth grade, I persevere through the dark shadows of the past and drive forward toward a better future. In higher education, I strive to better understand the world around me and gain knowledge to overcome the incident in middle school. I hope to gain experience and skills to stand up against those who mocked me and help future young girls who also struggled like me in a male-dominated field. I wish to be that support that encourages other people to be brave, which I was missing when I needed it. To be able to help people who are in a similar situation would mean the world to me. I aspire to be someone that people can lean on. Instead of worrying about what I cannot change, I focus on what I can change. I completed extra research on building techniques and fundamentals. I taught myself how to code in C++ through YouTube tutorials and reached out to experts for advice. I connected with judges for specific feedback on my engineering notebook and found examples online. Although I cannot control people’s stereotypes of me, I can control how I handle the situation and how I go forward. Rather than dwelling in the past, I look to the future. With this scholarship, I can pursue my goal of becoming a strong independent woman who inspires others to do the same. I can keep my head high and my eyes shining with pride as I step into the male-dominated field of engineering.

Being Latina, my cultural background has been integral to my identity, positively shaping me. Growing up, I was taught to embrace my heritage, celebrate my culture, and be proud of my roots. My Mexican side has always been on full display. I would often get stared at, but pride in my identity has helped me to develop a strong sense of self, a deep appreciation for diversity, and a commitment to social justice. What does pursuing higher education mean to me? It means breaking barriers, defying expectations, and seizing opportunities that were not readily available to previous generations. It means equipping myself with knowledge and skills to create a better future for my community and for myself. Pursuing higher education is my chance to make a tangible impact and be the change I wish to see in the world