Thomas Mashig Foundation Trade School Scholarship

I was born into a life of hard work. From as early as my mind could recall, all I saw was my family working. My mother would work 5 to 4 before coming home and taking care of me and my siblings, With my brother trying to support her by taking shifts at any job he could find white juggling school. I was born into that life, with the examples placed in front of me I was bred and shaped to be better, always striving to be more than what I was. My life not only gave me the trait of being relentless in my work but also taught me the value of generosity. You see, watching the people around you work all your life makes you want to work harder to make them happy, to repay them back and help them in return. That's what motivates me to keep pushing forward and my reason to pursue this trade of electrical. Knowing that it is up to me to help those who’ve supported me. As a sign of respect to them, I also feel a responsibility to help others around me. From a young age, I remember I had to be looked after. I felt as though I was always being taken care of, but I wanted to change that. I wanted to be the one to help and not the one being helped, I would always ask myself “ how can I repay my mother back?’’. So I worked as hard as I could, searching for ways to give back. I took on the responsibility from an early age, helping in the only way I knew—by working. I hate seeing my mom suffer from the work and responsibilities she placed upon herself to provide for us. It gave me strength and courage to help her. So, I joined her in working at the same restaurant. Providing a little extra for her and lending a hand with the bills and struggles she faced was the only way I could think of to help. Yes, the process was difficult —trying to balance work with school and soccer, dealing with long shifts, being exhausted, and handling rude and unsatisfied customers, all while my manager was always on my case. There were even times where I thought if I was doing enough to help her. but in the end, seeing my mom a little less stressed about taking care of me and managing money was worth it. Her well being motivated me to keep helping. Knowing that she was more at peace because of what I did gave me a sense of fulfillment. From those days on, I kept searching for that satisfaction—knowing that I could help and make a difference in the environment I was in. So, when it came to choosing a long term career, becoming an electrician was a no brainer. To me, becoming an electrician is more than just wiring plugs; It was a way of helping others. While my interest and passion for becoming an electrician have always been within me, helping people is what fueled that passion. Knowing that when people have a problem, they can count on me to fix it —there’s no better feeling. I used to think I wasn't doing enough when trying to help. But through the process of working, I’ve finally realized that simply trying and working hard was enough. That is what I intend to do with this trade: work hard and help others.

I am someone that is in recovery, helping others in recovery has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Having walked the difficult path of overcoming addiction myself, I understand the challenges, setbacks, and fears that can accompany the journey. Because of this, I have made it a priority to give back to others who are working to rebuild their lives. One way I’ve helped others is by sharing my story openly and honestly. I’ve learned that vulnerability can be a powerful tool in breaking down walls and building connections. When I share my experiences, struggles, and successes, it often inspires others to see that recovery is not only possible but also worth the effort. My goal is to show people that they are not alone and that they can overcome their challenges just as I have. I am a dedicated and hardworking individual pursuing a career in auto body repair. Growing up, I was always drawn to working with my hands and solving problems. Over time, that interest developed into a passion for cars and the craftsmanship involved in repairing and restoring them. I’ve found that this field allows me to combine creativity, technical skill, and attention to detail qualities that define who I am and what I enjoy doing. Helping others has always been important to me, both personally and professionally. I’ve supported family and friends by offering a listening ear, helping with small repairs, or simply being there when someone needed encouragement. In my journey as a student of auto body repair, I’ve had the opportunity to assist classmates by sharing techniques or troubleshooting challenges during projects. I believe that collaboration and a willingness to help others are essential for personal and collective growth. I plan to utilize my trade skills in auto body repair to build a career that combines technical expertise, creativity, and a passion for helping others. The knowledge and hands-on experience I’ve gained in this trade will allow me to restore vehicles, bring damaged cars back to life, and create custom designs that reflect the personality and vision of the owners. One of my primary goals is to work in an auto body shop where I can continue to refine my skills and deliver high-quality repairs and restorations. By utilizing techniques such as collision repair, paintwork, and dent removal, I will help clients regain pride in their vehicles and confidence in their transportation. Cars are an essential part of many people’s lives, and being able to restore them is not just about the work itself but also about improving the lives of others. Looking forward, I plan to utilize my trade skills in meaningful ways. As an auto body technician, I’ll have the ability to help people restore their vehicles and regain confidence in their transportation. Beyond the technical work, I hope to create positive experiences for customers by treating them with respect and delivering high-quality results.

Hello, My name is Andre Joseph. I am Haitian, but I was born on the beautiful island of Nassau, Bahamas. I moved to the U.S. when I was just 8. I am a student at Wekiva High School and Orange Technical College. Due to the dual enrollment program, I plan to complete my certification in appliance technician by 2026 and begin my career right after. For the past year, I volunteered at the nonprofit Divine's Destiny's food and beverage pantry, where I logged in over 80 hours. Our mission was to glorify God through helping our community. My role was assisting with pickup, distribution, and organizing the inventory of the pantry and shed. Overall this experience made me a better leader and allowed me to better help my community.   I plan to work in the appliance repair field under a company for about 5 to 10 years. This hands-on experience will provide me with invaluable industry knowledge and skills. Afterwards, I intend to attend community college to pursue a degree in business, which would give me the necessary tools to successfully manage and operate my own appliance repair business.This scholarship would be great help in helping me pay the tuition to complete my certification. Currently, I am unsure how I will cover the costs, and this scholarship would greatly help to relieve my financial concerns. I would truly appreciate the support. I choose this field because it forces me to examine and analyze, as there are so many appliances out there, from refrigerators to washing machines and microwaves, each featuring their own components and switches and requiring distinct solutions to be solved. I also like the variety of opportunities within this field, as you either choose to work for a company or start your own business. You also have the options of working commercially or residentially or strictly selling appliances.   In conclusion, this scholarship would significantly assist in funding the tuition required to obtain the certification required to work as an appliance technician. It would also serve as a catalyst to initiate my dream of owning my own appliance repair business in the near future, thereby enabling me to better support my family and future generations. I am confident it will bring stability, security, and endless opportunities for growth and success. This award would be a pivotal stepping stone, empowering me to achieve my goals efficiently and push on in my career and also me to complete my education.