As a FIRST alumnus, almost all the different fields in STEM hold a place of interest to me. Each field is so interconnected with the next, it makes it hard to pick just one to be interested in and I love to learn. For my first degree, I'm focused on the basics of Information Technology, programming and my favorite so far, database administration and management. I hope to go back to school and learn things like cybersecurity and engineering. Technology is such a prominent part of our everyday lives, and the need for technology is ingrained in our future. With the world we live in, I feel like it's impossible to not study the very subjects that are as connected to us as a finger or a hand. If I can help just one person, whether it is fixing a phone, creating an app, or just giving a company the organization needed to thrive it's worth it to me. That's why I want to study STEM. There are a lot of things I hope to achieve by getting my degree, not only do I come from a troubled household, but I'll be one of the first to graduate college, just as I was the first to get my high school diploma. I believe that no matter what my career is, spreading my knowledge and giving back to the community is a priority. With the lack of women and minorities in STEM positions, I feel as though the tech advancements we need as a society to push ourselves in the right direction are not being achieved. I hope to spread my knowledge to these minorities and teach them that it's possible and necessary. One of the biggest ways I hope to do this is by creating a therapy-integrated health app. One that combines journaling and therapy. I feel that although there are more resources for those who struggle with their mental health, there needs to be more. I have suffered from various mental health issues not limited to Borderline Personality Disorder. I've tried all kinds of apps and sites and medications and therapy and tried to find the right ratio of each. From my own experience, it's easier to do an audio message or journal about the events as they are happening, not trying to remember all the details a week later. And with the addition of a patient having control of their health plan, we can help reduce the fear and motivational issues that come with seeking help. It can also help to prioritize emergencies from "I can handle this" moments while integrating self-soothe systems that work for the patient.

As a FIRST alumnus, almost all the different fields in STEM hold a place of interest to me. Each field is so interconnected with the next, it makes it hard to pick just one to be interested in. For my first degree, I'm focused on the basics of Information Technology, programming and my favorite so far, database administration and management. Technology is such a prominent part of our everyday lives, so much so that we barely even notice the little things. It's not just in our TVs and phones, it's in our clocks, our scales, our coffeemakers, our cameras and even the locking mechanisms on our doors. The need for technology is ingrained in our future, for better or worse. With the world we live in, I feel like it's impossible to not study the very subjects that are as connected to us as a finger or a hand. If I can help just one person, whether it is fixing a phone, creating an app, or just giving a company the organization needed to thrive it's worth it to me. That's why I want to study STEM. For the advancement and aid of the human race. There are a lot of things I hope to achieve by getting my degree, not only do I come from a troubled household, but I'll be one of the first to graduate college, just as I was the first to get my high school diploma. I believe that no matter what my career is, spreading my knowledge and giving back to the community is a priority. With the lack of women and minorities in STEM positions, I feel as though the tech advancements we need as a society to push ourselves in the right direction are not being achieved. I hope to spread my knowledge to these minorities and teach them that it's possible and nesseciary. Aside from spreading my knowledge, I hope to create a therapy-integrated health app. One that combines journaling and therapy. I feel that although there are more resources for those who struggle with their mental health, there needs to be more. From my own experience, it's easier to do an audio message or journal about the events as they are happening, not trying to remember all the details a week later. And with the addition of a patient having control of their plan, we can help reduce the fear and motivational issues that come with seeking help.

My grandfather is a Vietnam War Veteran, and he has been the main constant in my life. I was in and out of foster homes by the time I reached the age of 5. My grandpa was always there, taking in my family when we had no place to live, feeding me when no one had, and spending time with me when no one else bothered. I had a hard upbringing, and my grandpa always made sure I was safe. I first got interested in science and computers because of him. Every weekend, specifically on Sundays, my grandpa and I would sit in front of the TV and watch Cosmos, the original with Carl Sagan, and we continued when Niel took over. I was fascinated with space and science and the technology it took for us to understand and get this information. And then my grandpa got a computer, one of those old cube-looking computers that took up half a desk. I was so excited. I would watch my grandpa search for things on the internet for hours, and he was the one who showed me the two-legged horse video back when YouTube was coming around. I started to notice more of the electronics around me and even tried fixing them. There was the mp3 player my grandpa didn't use because the audio jack was broken, not that I knew what that was. He had given it to me to play with and one of the first things I did was crack it open. There were so many small wires and pieces and I wanted to know how it could save music on what looked like a flat green square with dots on it. As I got older computers were introduced in school, mainly for typing but there were online games too. When I got into computers was when Wizard 101 came out. I had to learn how to download games on my computer at home but then I started learning about how to add and remove apps for space, what storage was, and how to avoid the 'bad sites' that would break the computer. It was one of the few things that helped me through. When I was removed from my home the last time, I struggled. I was several hours away from my grandpa and I could no longer play on the computer. When I was 14, I started experimenting with computers and phones, I wanted a way around the password to my kindle so I could read past my bedtime. Each time I was caught I would find another way to get around my tech restrictions. And that's when I was dropped into my robotics team. One of the best experiences of my life. Learning to code and building a robot from scratch. I had so much fun, and my grandpa came to see all three of my competitions. Unfortunately for my foster parents, it only fueled my ability to get around their restrictions. By the time I was 17 and moving out, I had gotten around their passwords, restrictions, and wifi passwords every month. Now, after graduating, I wanted to continue to do something that would make me happy, and working with technology has always been that for me. I take pride in being the one to fix my grandpa's computer and show him how to work it as he did for me all those years ago.