I live for a challenge. My competitive spirit drives me to accomplish goals that seem just out of reach. I believe that is why I decided to pursue computer engineering. Since I was in middle school I dreamed of making robots and building gadgets. Whenever I would tell someone, they would always remind me of how difficult this endeavor would be. However, this only strengthened my will to achieve this goal. I believed that, although it would be challenging, through this degree I would be able to continuously build on and make breakthroughs while also being able to physically see the work that has been made. Although I did not have many opportunities to further this dream in high school, my feelings never changed. Now that I am actively pursuing this challenge, I have no doubt that I made the right decision. I am currently in my second year of college working towards a computer engineering degree at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Although I am not completely certain, I would like to, one day, expand my education even more and obtain a master's degree. Once I graduate, I want to work and gain new experiences that I would not necessarily gain in the classroom. Outside of work, I would like to take all the knowledge that I accumulated and start a personal project. If, or rather I should say when, I complete it, I hopefully will one day be able to sell the product. This could eventually lead to an entrepreneurial opportunity in which I would be able to start my own business. There are many things that might worry one in high school who has a dream. Going from high school to college and specializing in an interest is scary. However, there is nothing scarier than going into an unfamiliar situation and pursuing a goal without knowing whether it will work out or not. That is the story for many young people in STEM. I am an African American female in a field that is dominated by men. There are and will be many points in my journey when I will not know whether or not it will work out for a person like me. I am most passionate about fulfilling my dreams so that other young people like me are able to see that it is possible to have their dreams turn into their reality, no matter what they look like or what obstacles lie ahead.

I live for a challenge. My competitive spirit drives me to accomplish goals that seem just out of reach. I believe that is why I decided to pursue computer engineering. Since I was in middle school I dreamed of making robots and building gadgets. Whenever I would tell someone, they would always remind me of how difficult this endeavor would be. However, this only strengthened my will to achieve this goal. I believed that, although it would be challenging, through this degree I would be able to continuously build on and make breakthroughs while also being able to physically see the work that has been made. Although I did not have many opportunities to further this dream in high school, my feelings never changed. Now that I am actively pursuing this challenge, I have no doubt that I made the right decision. Much of my steadfastness comes from my faith and knowing that if God has put me in a certain place, there is nothing that will stand in my way and prevail. Growing up as a Seventh-Day Adventist Christian has taught me the value of relying fully on what I know to be true, that God is right beside me every step of the way. I am currently in my second year of college working towards a computer engineering degree at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Although I am not completely certain, I would like to, one day, expand my education even more and obtain a master's degree. Once I graduate, I want to work and gain new experience that I would not necessarily gain in the classroom. Outside of work, I would like to take all the knowledge that I accumulated and start a personal project. If, or rather I should say when, I complete it, I hopefully will one day be able to sell the product. This could eventually lead to an entrepreneurial opportunity in which I would be able to start my own business. One of the factors that have helped me get through my first year was church. Being able to take one day out of the week to spend with people that share the same beliefs is a blessing in that it takes away the stresses that have accrued from the week and it allows me to go into the new week with a sense of newness. I was very glad when I was able to find that community here in Rochester. It has developed into a second home for me. I credit much of my success to the strength that the church family has given me. This family has also led me to experience the beauty of the community I am in. Because of the many outreach opportunities, I have been able to see parts of the community that often get overlooked. I am very thankful for the community that I have found in Rochester.

I live for a challenge. My competitive spirit drives me to accomplish goals that seem just out of reach. I believe that is why I decided to pursue computer engineering. Since I was in middle school I dreamed of making robots and building gadgets. Whenever I would tell someone, they would always remind me of how difficult this endeavor would be. However, this only strengthened my will to achieve this goal. I believed that, although it would be challenging, through this degree I would be able to continuously build on and make breakthroughs while also being able to physically see the work that has been made. Although I did not have many opportunities to further this dream in high school, my feelings never changed. Now that I am actively pursuing this challenge, I have no doubt that I made the right decision. I am currently working towards a computer engineering degree at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Although I am not completely certain, I would like to, one day, expand my education even more and obtain a master's degree. Once I graduate, I want to work and gain new experience that I would not necessarily gain in the classroom. Outside of work, I would like to take all the knowledge that I accumulated and start a personal project. If, or rather I should say when, I complete it, I hopefully will one day be able to sell the product. This could eventually lead to an entrepreneurial opportunity in which I would be able to start my own business. Many things might worry one in high school who is soon to enter into higher education. Going from a place in which most to all is mandatory to a place where one has complete control of what he or she wants to study can be frightening. There is nothing scarier than going into an unfamiliar situation and pursuing a goal without knowing whether it will work out or not. That is the story for many young people in STEM. I am an African American female in a field that is dominated by men. There are and will be many points in my journey when I will not know whether or not it will work out for a person like me. I am most passionate about fulfilling my dreams so that other young people like me are able to see that it is possible to have a dream turn into their reality, no matter what they look like or what obstacles lie ahead.

I live for a challenge. My competitive spirit drives me to accomplish goals that seem just out of reach. I believe that is why I decided to pursue computer engineering. Since I was in middle school I dreamed of making robots and building gadgets. Whenever I would tell someone, they would always remind me of how difficult this endeavor would be. However, this only strengthened my will to achieve this goal. I believed that, although it would be challenging, through this degree I would be able to continuously build on and make breakthroughs while also being able to physically see the work that has been made. Although I did not have many opportunities to further this dream in high school, my feelings never changed. Now that I am actively pursuing this challenge, I have no doubt that I made the right decision. I am currently working towards a computer engineering degree at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Although I am not completely certain, I would like to, one day, expand my education even more and obtain a master's degree. Once I graduate, I want to work and gain new experience that I would not necessarily gain in the classroom. Outside of work, I would like to take all the knowledge that I accumulated and start a personal project. If, or rather I should say when, I complete it, I hopefully will one day be able to sell the product. This could eventually lead to an entrepreneurial opportunity in which I would be able to start my own business. There are many things that might worry one in high school who has a dream. Going from high school to college and specializing in an interest is scary. However, there is nothing scarier than going into an unfamiliar situation and pursuing a goal without knowing whether it will work out or not. That is the story for many young people in STEM. I am an African American female in a field that is dominated by men. There are and will be many points in my journey when I will not know whether or not it will work out for a person like me. I am most passionate about fulfilling my dreams so that other young people like me are able to see that it is possible to have a dream turn into their reality, no matter what they look like or what obstacles lie ahead.