In my first semester at community college, I’d like to say that I faced a rough transition from high school into the college world. Initially enrolled in enough credits to be considered more than a “full time” student, I believed that the transition was going to be fairly smooth. The semester picked up as expected, facing little to no hardships, until I saw the necessities to attend office hours for help with homework. I’d say that the hardest difficulty that I had faced involved the complex office hour scheduling that my chemistry class had. Throughout the semester, I found it very difficult to make it to my professors office hours since my math class occurred during the time. This unfortunate challenge made the semester very difficult for me since I always felt an intense anxiety & worry over failing chemistry. During this time of crisis, I was introduced to William, the tutor coordinator at my college through one of my counselors. Meeting this person significantly changed my life to this day as a college student. They showed me that success is possible by pairing me with some of the best tutors on campus & providing me with the best advice for classes. With their support, I am more than confident that these upcoming semesters will be full of hope. The most important quality I have learned in college would be the power of self advocating. This quality is very important since I did not know how much independence was expected of me at first. My chemistry class taught me the most valuable lessons with this quality because of the fast pace the class followed. With daily assignments & difficult labs, I was forced to rapidly adapt my study habits to keep up with the class. As hard as the class was against my favor, I now value the difficult times I overcame. The study skills I managed to absorb during that time have now proved to be beneficial since they aided me in my second college semester. The legacy of Jose Prado leaves a deep and positive impact within me. As the first person in my family to ever step inside a college class, I continue to be motivated by the support that everyone offers for the first generations of latinos. Thanks to parents like Jose, students like myself will continue to fight for our education because their efforts do not go unnoticed. A scholarship that I would plan to establish some day would revolve around the hispanic community as well. The goal of the scholarship would be to provide the winner with another motivating factor for them to continue on with their education. I would favor those candidates who come from humble beginnings with the best talents in demonstrating their need for financial aid. I believe that education is the key to all doors. Education can bring more than just wisdom. It attracts friendships, connections, & brings along core memories. Knowledge brings people together through the search for success.

I would develop some form of popular social media platform(s) that targets all ages. By advertising the many helpful online resources, sharing relaxing exercises, & even sharing simple positive messages through posts, I would aim to help the overall well-being of these social media communities. By advocating for the importance of mental health, I believe that I would be able to raise awareness for this situation. Individuals should know they are not fighting their battles by themselves but rather are supported by the general public. Another effort I can hold would be to share petitions that direct in favor of our mental health care systems in the hope of increasing wages & policies for programs involved in this welfare system. Everyone should be able to receive the necessary aid to be in their best mental state!

For as long as I can remember, I have always had an interest in automobiles. Cars have always been my push to success. From the memories I hold as a child, to the present day, vehicles are my drive for passion. As a child, I was influenced by all kinds of racing games. Playing video games such as Need For Speed and Forza Horizon was the foundation for my ambition with vehicles. I was easily able to identify vehicle types, parts, and even understood why they performed in such ways. Seeing how much potential a vehicle held tied me closer to this hobby. Growing up, the visits to the auto mechanic became more than observative opportunities. By asking the mechanics questions I was able to involve myself in the repairs of vehicles. This allowed me to deepen my understanding of what working in a vehicle was like and I made me feel better about myself by being able to understand common problems. These experiences resulted in being super helpful. Before I knew it, I was repairing my families vehicles and doing most of their maintenance. As more opportunities emerged, I took advantage of them. I signed up for a program through my high school known as SVCTE, where I can do what I love the most: work on cars. Throughout the passing months, I increased my knowledge and understanding of cars by obtaining hands-on experience. Working with cars daily has enhanced my experience and confidence in solving modern-day problems. Some examples of this include aligning cars, balancing wheels, and adjusting brakes and suspensions. Exercising these procedures has put me through challenges that I now cruise through. Repetitively working on vehicles has given me the confidence to not feel overwhelmed when presented with a problem. In addition, Ford introduced me to their high school program for students, Ford Ace. The program has enforced my knowledge of vehicles by reviewing procedures and safety regulations. Ford’s program has prepared me for a dealership environment by teaching me about safety regulations and managing paperwork for vehicles. Earning training certificates from Ford allowed me to shadow their dealership in my city. I was paired with a helpful technician and was taught about the type of environment it is to work in a professional dealership. I observed technicians solve complicated problems while following proper safety protocols and working efficiently. Currently, I am continuing to visit the dealership regularly to further understand what it is like to work there. Upon success, I picture myself as a dedicated mentor, helping others achieve their dreams in the automotive field. I aspire to create learning opportunities for individuals so that they too, can share my vision of success. This scholarship will aid me with the necessary resources to earn my educational degree. This aid will allow me to solely focus on my education & engage in extracurriculars that will boost my understanding of vehicles. Overall, this will be a great aid in shaping my future career path. Thank you for your time in reading my application & for the opportunity to express my hunger for more education!

The book of my choice would be "A Long Walk to Water" by Linda Sue Park. I came across this book in the last year of middle school as someone who did not enjoy reading then. Our teacher had instructed the class to read through the book on a scheduled basis. Initially retaliating, I didn’t know how much of an impact this book would have brought to my life as I progressed through the reading I slowly found myself more amused by the content of the story. I was so amused by the happenings in the story that I had even begun to read beyond the class schedule. The story of a young Salva, an African Refugee, shares his success as he overcomes significantly grave struggles from the Sudanese Civil War involving starvation, grief, & betrayal. Not only does this story depict the cruel struggles Salva faced, but it also shares his successes despite facing impossible odds. Upon overcoming his obstacles, Salva’s most significant achievement was founding to establish Water For South Sudan, an organization that has created over 600 water wells for the villages of Southern Sudan. As I’ve continued with my education, I admire Salva’s accomplishments, showing that anything is possible no matter how difficult your obstacles may seem. To me, this story is more than just a book. It is a sign of hope. Now that I reflect, opening my mind to this book proved to be one of the best things I could’ve done for myself! To this day, I continue to hold Salva's resilience within me as I progress through my college education.

During the summer of 2023, I was very hopeful to get started with college. As someone who graduated high school with a high GPA and various awards, I expected college to be a breeze. Little did I know, God had other plans for me. What started as a good semester quickly turned into an awful experience. I often relied on carpooling as my main source of transportation but biked when carpooling wasn’t available. Within the middle of the semester, I grew more and more tired. What started as a manageable semester turned into a very traumatizing experience. The workload from my classes seemed to be never-ending and I was falling behind in my chemistry class. Even though I was responsible and knew I had many helpful resources available, I struggled to find a rhythm in my life. I grew tiresome and weary of the growing nightmare of assignments that awaited me every day. I would have constant debates with myself about dropping chemistry due to the risk of failing the class. Even though I was fighting a rough battle, there were positive aspects to this story. Keeping my faith in God allowed me to find the motivation I needed to keep pushing through the semester. I was also able to make friends who would push me to not give up. With all of this pressure, I was very disoriented. It seemed as if I was not meant for college. I was very doubtful of myself and in a very dark place Thanks to God, I managed to pull through the semester. Viewing my final grades was a big relief and showed me that it is never too late to recuperate academically. I passed all of my classes with better grades than I originally expected. Something that seemed impossible at first, turned out to be a very important lesson that showed me of my true education potential when holding on to a positive mindset. This taught me that I was more capable than what I originally thought I was, that I should not think negatively, and that I should always keep my faith in God. To this day, I am still amazed at this achievement. Now that I am two weeks from beginning of my second semester of college, I look back and reflect on how the previous semester shaped me. I’ve strengthened my faith in God through prayers and overall becoming a better person. This will help me stay motivated throughout the semester and allow me to finish strong. To be better prepared for my second semester, I used most of the time from my break to get ahead of myself in order to have a smooth upcoming semester. By voluntarily studying for my upcoming classes, I now feel more competent and prepared for when they begin. I have developed the habit of constantly wanting to do math or science problems. With this great habit I am extremely positive about how my next semester will turn out to be. I am eager to get started with this next semester knowing I have God by my side, am prepared, and have friends to create experiences with. Thank you for your time in reading my application and sharing this wonderful scholarship opportunity.

For as long as I can remember, I have always had an interest in automobiles. Cars have always been my push to success. From the memories I hold as a child, to the present day, vehicles are my drive for passion. As a child, I was influenced by all kinds of racing games. Playing games video games such as Need For Speed and Forza Horizon was the foundation for my ambition with vehicles. I was easily able to identify vehicle types, parts, and even understood why they performed in such ways. Seeing how much potential a vehicle held tied me closer to this hobby. Growing up, the visits to the auto mechanic became more than observative opportunities. By asking the mechanics questions I was able to involve myself in the repairs of vehicles. This allowed me to deepen my understanding of what working in a vehicle was like and I made me feel better about myself by being able to understand common problems. These experiences resulted in being super helpful. Before I knew it, I was repairing my families vehicles and doing most of their maintenance. As more opportunities emerged, I took advantage of them. I signed up for a program through my high school known as SVCTE, where I can do what I love the most: work on cars. Throughout the passing months, I increased my knowledge and understanding of cars by obtaining hands on experience. Working with cars daily has enhanced my experience and confidence in solving modern-day problems. Some examples of this include aligning cars, balancing wheels, and adjusting brakes and suspensions. Exercising these procedures has put me through challenges that I now cruise through. Repetitively working on vehicles has given me the confidence to not feel overwhelmed when presented with a problem. In addition, Ford introduced me to their high school program for students, Ford Ace. The program has enforced my knowledge of vehicles by reviewing procedures and safety regulations. Ford’s program has prepared me for a dealership environment by teaching me about safety regulations and managing paperwork for vehicles. Earning training certificates from Ford allowed me to shadow their dealership in my city. I was paired with a helpful technician and was taught about the type of environment it is to work in a professional dealership. I observed technicians solve complicated problems while following proper safety protocols and working efficiently. Currently, I am continuing to visit the dealership regularly to further understand what it is like to work there. This upcoming semester, I will continue my journey through Evergreen Valley College to achieve my associate's degree engineering. Through college, I intend to further enhance my soft skills by communicating with others, helping with class-related problems, and ensuring my classmates understand the material by offering help. Once I finish community college, I plan to transfer to a four-year university to major in mechanical engineering. After 5 years, I see myself as a successful college graduate working in the automotive field as a designer for vehicles. I want to go above and beyond being a mechanic and design vehicles for Porshce. This luxurious auto brand has always caught my attention since I was young and I have always dreamed of working there. Additionally, since helping others has always been a passion of mine, I also picture myself as a dedicated teacher. With a lot of experience and good communication skills I see myself as an excellent role model helping apprentices achieve the same goal I once dreamed of. Thank you for taking the time to read my essay. I’m thankful for the chance you have given me to express my hunger for more education.

During my high school years, I suffered a critical knee injury in a competitive soccer game. This injury took me out of the sport for nearly two years and taught me to be appreciative of the gift I was given, the ability to play sports. While people complained about the aroma of freshly cut grass, sweaty shins, conditioning in the heat, and playing in the rain, I embraced these very instances. The road to recovery seemed immeasurable. After I received surgery, I wasn't able to engage in any form of physical activity, including soccer. I felt useless sitting on the sidelines and watching my friends play soccer. I became more determined than ever to have a speedy recovery. Through determination, ambition, and physical therapy, I recovered in nine months. I met a lot of supportive staff members who helped me with a speedy recovery. Now that I'm feeling better than ever and thriving while playing soccer again, I’m more thankful than ever for a second opportunity to do what I love—play soccer. Not one moment is taken for granted on and off the field because I realized while in the hospital how fragile life can be. After recovering, I accomplished my biggest goal. My team and I won the Central Coast Section (CCS). We had accomplished what I thought would be impossible for me to ever participate in while I lay in a hospital bed a few months prior. I remember lifting the award on the field and receiving my medal. That moment of joy made all the difficulties I had gone through in the past year worth it. I had persevered in a way that felt impossible at times. This beautiful memory taught me that everything was possible. After the success, I reflected on the physical journey of what it took me to win. I remember the supportive staff during physical therapy that aided me in recovery. This made me realize that community involvement is important and something that my heart has a desire to do. If I didn't have the community that I did, I wouldn't have been able to recover. I decided I wanted to give back to my community by helping others improve in the sport that made me who I am today. I began a non-profit business for training players who are new to soccer by posting flyers around my community and online. Seeing my clients improve over time showed me I was making a compelling impact on their lives in the same way the hospital staff did on mine. Learning from each person's interactions allowed me to adjust and improve the quality of my work based on someone's individual needs. Additionally, my desire to help others become the best versions of themselves extended beyond the soccer pitch. By volunteering in scholastic events, I aimed to help students understand concepts involving math, science, and English. Volunteering allowed me to see my fueling passion for helping others and the transformative power of education. To conclude, from my injury to my victory in soccer, I learned many valuable lessons. My victory led me to create my non-profit training business, aimed at helping others improve their skills at soccer. To fulfill my desire, I also moved to the educational field, helping students excel in common subjects involving math, science, and English. This journey has been truly incredible, and I am extremely proud of the impact I've made on my community. As I look toward the future, I cannot wait to see what other meaningful accomplishments I will achieve!

The reason for why I am applying to this scholarship is because of my financial need for a vehicle. I attend Evergreen Valley College in San Jose, California and was faced with difficulties last semester involving transportation. Since I do not own a reliable form of transportation, I often carpool with my friends or would use the bus. At times, these sources of transportation proved unreliable. I wouldn’t be able to be picked up due to having different schedules from my friends or the bus would depart earlier than scheduled, resulting in me arriving late to class because I would have to wait for the next bus. These occurrences made it difficult for me to have an enjoyable college experience and I would not want for that to repeat. Allow me to continue by speaking of my drive for passion. For as long as I can remember, I always had a connection with automobiles. From racing my toy Hot Wheels to working in my father’s shop, I quickly formed big dreams to work my way up in my understanding of vehicles. The transition from playing with toys to working on real-life vehicles inspired me to work in the automotive field. Growing older, I began to read books and articles regarding the science behind automotive repair. My father's shop in Mexico would receive various styles of vehicles every day. I would apply my knowledge of repairing vehicles every time a new opportunity arose. This hands-on experience has heightened my appreciation for the innovative details that make every vehicle unique. In my eyes, a vehicle is not just a piece of metal on wheels. I view the profession of craftsmanship in the creation of such vehicles. From the sleek lines of every vehicle's design to their spectacular performance, I find a fascinating peace when I get behind the wheel. To me, cars are much more than a form of transportation. They represent beauty, freedom, and exhilaration. The roar from their powerful engines resonates within my soul every time I hear them soar by. Automobiles are truly works of art. It is for these great reasons that I want to devote my life to the understanding of these great machines. I plan to make an impact in the future by bringing my determination and mechanical experience into the automotive field. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to apply my skills, expand my knowledge, and play a meaningful role in shaping the future of the automotive industry. Additionally, I would like to make a positive impact in the field by instructing apprentices. By providing them with advice and guidance through hands-on training, I believe I can empower others to become as successful as I hope to be. My commitment is not solely focused on simply fixing a vehicle but rather extends to improving the overall work environment. I desire to teach others the importance of professional customer service, patience, and the desire for continuous learning. My overall goal after my success is to prepare the next generation of auto workers by being a leader and a professional influence. Through mentorship and guidance, I believe I can make newcomers strive for this opportunity in this growing industry. Thank you for this opportunity to express my hunger for more education and dedication to the automotive field!

Hello, my name is Angel Martinez. As a child of Mexican immigrants, I am excited to share a bit of my background and desire to pursue a career within the automotive industry. To begin, My journey within Mexico and the United States has been compellingly tied to automobiles ever since I can remember. From a young age, wandering my father’s shop brought me an immense amount of curiosity and joy. As I grew older, I began to understand the concepts regarding automobile repair and eventually began to work on my family's vehicles. When I moved to the United States, I was introduced to newer vehicles, providing me with innovative opportunities to work on new forms of technology. Additionally, this is when I began playing auto-related video games. Both of these experiences fueled my drive for passion in the automotive industry. Coming from a hard-working family, I learned many valuable lessons that have shaped my work ethic. Observing my father's hard work over the years taught me the importance of patience, determination, responsibility, and honesty. These values have been the driving force behind my commitment to achieving my goal of becoming a vehicle designer one day in the future. Having lived and worked on cars in both countries, I understand the diverse perspectives shared within the industry. These unique shared experiences fuel my ambition to work as a vehicle designer for Porsche. I am passionate about contributing my skills and experience to make a meaningful impact on this company.

As I sprinted toward the goal made of two orange cones, during lunch recess, with the soccer ball at my feet, I envisioned myself scoring as I shot the ball. Instead, the unthinkable occurred. I fell to the ground and immediately became immobilized as I felt a pop in my right knee. I didn't want to believe my injury was as bad as it felt. At that moment, I naively decided the excruciating pain was a strong cramp. Little did I know, my right knee endured a much bigger injury than a cramp. The worst-case scenario for an athlete’s career occurred. After going to the hospital, I was given crutches, put on a knee immobilizer, and instructed to get an MRI. The doctors informed my parents and me that there was a tear in my lateral meniscus. My injury would not heal on its own, and I'd need surgery along with physical therapy. While people complained about the aroma from freshly cut grass, sweaty shins, conditioning in the heat, and playing in the rain I embraced these very instances. These very occurrences are what made soccer my first love. For these very reasons, the road to recovery seemed immeasurable. After I received surgery, I wasn't able to engage in any form of physical activity, including soccer. I felt useless as I sat on the sidelines and watched my friends play soccer. I became more determined than ever to have a speedy recovery. Through determination, ambition, and physical therapy I recovered in nine months. I met a lot of supportive staff members who aided me with a speedy recovery. Now that I'm feeling better than I ever have, thriving while playing soccer again, I’m more thankful than ever for a second opportunity to do what I love - play soccer. Not one moment is taken for granted on and off the field because I realized while in the hospital how fragile life can be. After recovering, I accomplished my biggest goal. My team and I won the Central Coast Sections (CCS). We had accomplished what I thought would be impossible for me to ever participate in while I laid in a hospital bed a few months prior. We fought hard in the competition and won the finals with a score of 5-2. I remember lifting the award on the field and receiving my medal. That was a moment of joy that made all the difficulties I had gone through in the past year worth it. I had persevered in a way that felt impossible at times. After the success, I reflected on the physical journey of what it took me to win. I remember the supportive staff during physical therapy that aided me in recovery. This made me realize that community involvement is extremely important. If I didn't have the community that I did, I wouldn't have been able to recover. After winning CSS, I decided I wanted to give back to my community by helping others improve in the sport that made me who I am today. I began a non-profit business for training players who are new to soccer by posting flyers around my community and online. Seeing my clients improve over time showed me I was making a compelling impact in their lives in the same way the hospital staff did on mine. This scholarship would help me achieve my goals by allowing me to continue my education in college and establish a training program for athletes who want to learn more about the beautiful game.

Nothing is more important to me than ensuring everyone is given an equal chance in life. When I began high school, I started volunteering in my community when I saw how understaffed some organizations were. Since I believe in equal treatment and fair opportunities, I wanted to find a way to help those in need. Volunteering at church and in my nearby schools showed me the difference I can make in a person's overall life. From distributing food to tutoring middle schoolers, I realized that I am capable of more than I originally thought. Seeing people smile in gratitude and excitement has inspired me to keep helping in my community. Now that I look back at those days, I can admire the good I did for others. Handing out food at my church and helping with mass showed me the necessities people have in life and that I should be grateful for what I have been given. Tutoring students made me part of who I am today, as I now help those in my class who don’t understand what is being taught. I realized that my parents have given me everything I ever needed, as I now see that not everyone receives the same opportunities. Volunteering guided me to where I am today because it showed me the true goodness of other people. I have built trust within my community and am now searching for ways to give back to those who helped me. Now, in my current time, I volunteer at my high school's events and offer to aid those who need help in school or with other related problems. Next year, I will begin my journey through Evergreen Valley College to achieve my associate's degree related to the automotive industry. Earning this scholarship will help me attend and get to my classes on time. As of now, my best methods of transportation are walking and carpooling. I have always had to rely on someone else for a carpool when necessary. Since my high school is nearby, I don’t mind the walk. With my graduation approaching, I have begun to plan how I will attend college with limited transportation. This scholarship will help me buy a reliable form of transportation, such as a vehicle. In addition, this scholarship will aid in my family's life by allowing me to take more care of my younger brother by transporting him to school. Like me, he also depends on walking. Thank you for this great opportunity to share my hunger for more education.

For as long as I can remember, I have always had an interest in automobiles. Cars have always been my push to success. As opportunities emerged, I took advantage of them. I signed up for a program through my high school known as SVCTE, where I can do what I love the most: work on cars. Throughout these past months, I have increased my knowledge and understanding of cars. Working with cars daily has enhanced my experience and confidence in solving modern-day problems. Some examples of this include aligning cars, balancing wheels, and adjusting brakes and suspensions. Exercising these procedures has put me through challenges that I now cruise through. Repetitively working on vehicles has given me the confidence to not feel overwhelmed when presented with a problem. In addition, Ford introduced me to their high school program for students, Ford Ace. The program has enforced my knowledge of vehicles by reviewing procedures and safety regulations. Ford’s program has prepared me for a dealership environment by teaching me about safety regulations and managing paperwork for vehicles. Earning training certificates from Ford allowed me to shadow their dealership in my city. I was paired with a helpful technician and was taught about the type of environment it is to work in a professional dealership. I observed technicians solve complicated problems while following proper safety protocols and working efficiently. Currently, I am continuing to visit the dealership regularly to further understand what it is like to work there. Next year, I will begin my journey through Evergreen Valley College to achieve my associate's degrees in electrical engine performance and in driveline and chassis. Through college, I intend to further enhance my soft skills by communicating with others, helping with class-related problems, and ensuring my classmates understand the material by offering help. Once I finish community college, I plan to transfer to a four-year university to major in mechanical engineering. Years from now, after finishing my education, I see myself working at a dealership while working my way up in the available roles. I see myself helping others achieve the same goal I once dreamed of and helping customers get back on the road. As of now, my best methods of transportation are walking and carpooling. I have always had to rely on someone else for a carpool when necessary. Since my high school is nearby, I don’t mind the walk. With graduation approaching, I have begun to plan how I will attend college with limited transportation. Winning this scholarship would be useful to me by helping me attend my nearest college, Evergreen Valley College. This scholarship will help me buy a reliable form of transportation, such as a vehicle or bicycle. The leftover money will go into my college savings for when I transfer to a four-year university. This scholarship will allow me to pay for school expenses such as school supplies, class registrations, and more. Thank you for taking the time to read my essay. I’m thankful for the chance you have given me to express my hunger for more education.

My future involves helping others succeed in my intended field of study (automotive), while seeking prosperity and working on vehicles.

My sport, soccer, has completely shaped me who I am as a person today. This sport plays a major role in my daily life. Watching people play makes me extremely happy. Ever since I was a little kid, I grew up playing & watching soccer. Watching players unite as a team & get through tough games makes me believe in true sportsmanship. This part of my life formed me as the player I am today. Communication skills are very important in every aspect of life. I learned this the easy way surprisingly. Going to my friends soccer games which ended in losses showed me that a team needs to play like a team. The basic fundamentals like communication & understanding forms a strong team. Going to these games taught me what not to do in games. Understanding that communication with others will improve the quality of everything. Other experiences that now influence my life have been playing with new people. Meeting new people at soccer fields excited me since I am able to play with new players & learn new things from others. I am always vigilant & try learning new things every day. While I learn things from observing other's play styles, I also help improve how they execute their moves. I give them tips, examples, & much more to help the other players learn new things. Knowing I can make a change in other people's lives makes me passionate about soccer. To this day, these experiences have motivated me to start training with other players for their personal improvement. I understand that not everyone has the same experience as others, but I am always excited to help a fellow team mate out. Understanding the rate of learning other players has taught me patience. Having patience relaxes the people I am training with which lessens the worries they have about making mistakes. Teaching others about this sport has made me who I am today. I enjoy teaching children about this sport and I enjoy seeing them improve over time. Seeing others succeed & improve motivates me to continue doing what I love. This quality has given me confidence as a player to not be afraid to step out of my comfort zone in order to help another player in need. Knowing I made a positive impact on their lifestyle helps me continue in my inspiration of helping everyone improve in the sport. This sport has taught me that everyone within each other has something in common. Within time & practice I have understood the qualities a person needs to advance as a a player. My main goal while training people has been to implement these qualities in their practices so others can improve from their original state of experience.