In January of 2021 during my sophomore year, my grandma had a bad fall which resulted in her not being able to walk. After three more falls my mother moved my grandparents into our house making her the primary caregiver. As a result, she was not able to work as much as she used to and has continued to struggle to find a caregiver who would last for more than a week. It has been part of my daily routine to help my mother care for my grandmother. Within this routine, I have had to become flexible when managing my schoolwork and other areas of academics so that I can help at a moment's notice. Throughout my junior year, my homework would be interrupted for 30-45 minutes to help my mom with my grandma. While I wanted to help, I was frustrated having to stop in the middle of reading or studying. I knew that I needed to find ways to do my best because there was no one else to help with her. This put a small hinder on my junior year academics because of the constant stops in studying and homework. Even though this created an obstacle for my junior year academics, I was still able to get enough time to study, complete my homework, and earn As in all my classes. My educational goal is to pursue pre-med so that I can further my education in oncology. I have family members on both parent’s sides that have battled cancer which gives me more insight into cancer. This is what first sparked my interest in working in the field of oncology. Throughout my life, my mom has made a point to provide me with the healthiest foods and an absurd amount of vitamins and supplements. She does this in hopes that I stay healthy and can prevent me from getting cancer. Growing up surrounded by family members battling horrific diseases and my mother exploring ways to prevent cancer has inspired me to pursue a career involving the prevention and/or treatment of cancer. I hope to help those who might have similar experiences as mine and my family members. Although radiation therapy mainly revolves around administering radiation treatment and consulting the patient in a time of need, I know that my job is helping reduce cancer for the patient and that they might be on a path to better health. I always have had an interest in studying and working in medicine but watching my grandma go through cancer at such a young age has helped me to realize I want to pursue a career in medicine. I want to help someone in the same way my grandma's doctors and nurses helped her.

One technology that inspires me about how technology can make the world a better place is renewable energy technology, such as solar and wind power. Renewable energy technology is important because it has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. As we continue to rely on fossil fuels for our energy needs, we are contributing to the destruction of the environment and the health of the planet. Renewable energy, on the other hand, is a clean, sustainable and abundant source of energy that has the potential to replace fossil fuels. One of the primary advantages of renewable energy technology is its decentralized deployment, which allows it to be installed on rooftops or in small towns, minimizing the need for big centralized power facilities. This makes renewable energy more accessible to individuals who previously did not have access to electricity, especially in rural areas and underdeveloped countries. Renewable energy technology is becoming more efficient and cost-effective, making it a viable alternative to fossil fuels. As the cost of renewable energy continues to fall, it will become more extensively used, and the environmental benefits will become more substantial. Renewable energy technology has advanced significantly in recent years, and there are numerous intriguing advances in this area. For example, advances in solar panel technology have enabled more energy to be captured from the sun, even on overcast days or in low-light situations. Furthermore, new battery technologies are making it possible to store renewable energy more, allowing us to use it even when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing. Overall, renewable energy technology is an excellent illustration of how technology may be used to improve the planet. We can minimize our dependency on fossil fuels, prevent climate change, and create a more sustainable future for ourselves and future generations by harnessing the power of the sun and wind.

My name is Allison Ortiz and I am a high school senior. I started getting involved in my community in my sophomore year of high school where I volunteered at the Houston Food Bank whenever I could and ever since then I've gone as much as I can with my busy schedule as a student-athlete. Additionally, I make small goody bags of essentials such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, socks, granola bars, etc. to give to homeless people I see when driving. I put a few bags in my car a day when I have the extra supplies to do so so that they have some daily life essentials. I like to be able to help my community in any way I can because of how fortunate I am. My educational goal is to pursue pre-med so that I can further my education in oncology. I have family members on both parents’ sides that have battled cancer which gives me more insight into cancer. This is what first sparked my interest in working in the field of oncology. Throughout my life, my mom has made a point to provide me with the healthiest foods and an absurd amount of vitamins and supplements. She does this in hopes that I stay healthy and can prevent me from getting cancer. Growing up surrounded by family members battling horrific diseases and my mother exploring ways to prevent cancer has inspired me to pursue a career involving the prevention and/or treatment of cancer. I hope to help those who might have similar experiences as mine and my family members. Although radiation therapy mainly revolves around administering radiation treatment and consulting the patient in a time of need, I know that my job is helping reduce cancer for the patient and that they might be on a path to better health. I always have had an interest in studying and working in medicine but watching my grandma go through cancer at such a young age has helped me to realize I want to pursue a career in medicine. Being so young I didn't understand what cancer was and why there was no standing cure for it, all I knew was that it was killing my grandma. I want to be able to help other families who might be going through the same situation understand what is going on without giving them details that might hurt the situation even more. I want to help someone in the same way my grandma's doctors and nurses helped her. This scholarship will help me pay for college so that I can get my degree without having to worry about how I'm going to pay for it. My parents are divorced and my mom is currently taking care of her parents because my grandma had a bad fall that caused her to be wheelchair-bound. This has put a strain on her income so now we have to carefully watch our spending. Although I plan on attending college this fall, I need to be able to find outside resources that can help me financially and I believe that this scholarship is one of those resources.

My name is Allison Ortiz and I am a high school senior. I started getting involved in my community in my sophomore year of high school where I volunteered at the Houston Food Bank whenever I could and ever since then I've gone as much as I can with my busy schedule as a student-athlete. Additionally, I make small goody bags of essentials such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, socks, granola bars, etc. to give to homeless people I see when driving. I put a few bags in my car a day when I have the extra supplies to do so so that they have some daily life essentials. I like to be able to help my community in anyway I can because of how fortunate I am. My educational goal is to pursue pre-med so that I can further my education in oncology. I have family members on both parents’ sides that have battled cancer which gives me more insight into cancer. This is what first sparked my interest in working in the field of oncology. Throughout my life, my mom has made a point to provide me with the healthiest foods and an absurd amount of vitamins and supplements. She does this in hopes that I stay healthy and can prevent me from getting cancer. Growing up surrounded by family members battling horrific diseases and my mother exploring ways to prevent cancer has inspired me to pursue a career involving the prevention and/or treatment of cancer. I hope to help those who might have similar experiences as mine and my family members. Although radiation therapy mainly revolves around administering radiation treatment and consulting the patient in a time of need, I know that my job is helping reduce cancer for the patient and that they might be on a path to better health. I always have had an interest in studying and working in medicine but watching my grandma go through cancer at such a young age has helped me to realize I want to pursue a career in medicine. Being so young I didn't understand what cancer was and why there was no standing cure for it, all I knew was that it was killing my grandma. I want to be able to help other families who might be going through the same situation understand what is going on without giving them details that might hurt the situation even more. I want to help someone in the same way my grandma's doctors and nurses helped her.

My grandma had a bad fall which resulted in her not being able to walk. After three more falls my mother moved my grandparents into our house making her the primary caregiver. As a result, she was not able to work as much as she used to and has continued to struggle finding a caregiver who would last for more than a week. Knowing some people struggle every day, like how my mom struggles, encouraged me to volunteer my time in a place where I knew I could impact the lives of others in need while also helping my mom at home whenever possible. Therefore it led me to one of my favorite community service activities. Volunteering at the Houston Food Bank. At the food bank, you're assigned to whatever projects they have that day, so you never know what you'll be doing. I volunteer my time whenever I can to go to the Houston Food Bank to help prepare food in some way so that they can give it to people who struggle to make ends meet and don't have money for food. The food bank is an easy place to help plenty of people in a short amount of time. I've brought multiple friends, which has benefited by getting more volunteers to help at the food bank with their projects. I plan to contribute to an inclusive college environment by encouraging others to help give back to their community because it's one of God's most fabulous creations. Although college may keep me busy, I want to find any time to help those in need. My family occasionally struggles with money, so some things are limited. My problem may not reflect how those who are less fortunate feel, but I can come from a place of understanding when it comes to helping my mom make ends meet. A service is an act of kindness and goodness that I believe anyone can do.

My educational goal is to pursue pre-med so that I can further my education under oncology. I have family members on both parent’s sides that have battled with cancer which gives me more insight about cancer. This is what first sparked my interest in working in the field of oncology. Throughout my life, my mom has made a point to provide me with the healthiest foods and an absurd amount of vitamins and supplements. She does this in hopes that I stay healthy and can prevent me from getting cancer. Growing up surrounded by family members battling horrific disease and my mother exploring ways to prevent cancer has inspired me to pursue a career involving the prevention and/or treatment of cancer. I hope to help those who might have similar experiences as mine and my family members. Although radiation therapy mainly revolves around administering radiation treatment and consulting the patient in a time of need, I know that my job is helping reduce cancer for the patient and that they might be on a path to better health. I always have had an interest in studying and working in medicine but watching my grandma go through cancer at such a young age has helped me to realize I want to pursue a career in medicine. I want to help someone in the same way my grandma's doctors and nurses helped her.

My parents are divorced, and I currently live with my mom, who is self-employed through her marketing business. However, In January of 2021 during my sophomore year, my grandma had a bad fall which resulted in her not being able to walk. After three more falls my mother moved my grandparents into our house making her the primary caregiver. As a result, she was not able to work as much as she used to and has continued to struggle finding a caregiver who would last for more than a week. It has been part of my daily routine to help my mother care for my grandmother. Within this routine I have had to become flexible when managing my schoolwork and other areas of academics so that I can help at a moment's notice. Throughout my junior year, my homework would be interrupted for 30-45 minutes to help my mom with my grandma. While I wanted to help, I was frustrated having to stop in the middle of reading or studying. I knew that I needed to find ways to do my best because there was no one else to help with her. This put a small hinder on my junior year academics because of the constant stops in studying and homework. Even though this created an obstacle for my junior year academics, I was still able to get enough time to study, complete my homework, and earn As in all my classes.

My educational goal is to pursue pre-med so that I can further my education under oncology. I have family members on both parent’s sides that have battled with cancer which gives me more insight about cancer. This is what first sparked my interest in working in the field of oncology. Throughout my life, my mom has made a point to provide me with the healthiest foods and an absurd amount of vitamins and supplements. She does this in hopes that I stay healthy and can prevent me from getting cancer. Growing up surrounded by family members battling horrific disease and my mother exploring ways to prevent cancer has inspired me to pursue a career involving the prevention and/or treatment of cancer. I hope to help those who might have similar experiences as mine and my family members. Although radiation therapy mainly revolves around administering radiation treatment and consulting the patient in a time of need, I know that my job is helping reduce cancer for the patient and that they might be on a path to better health. I always have had an interest in studying and working in medicine but watching my grandma go through cancer at such a young age has helped me to realize I want to pursue a career in medicine. I want to help someone in the same way my grandma's doctors and nurses helped her.

My best back to school tip is to use your school planner for everything. Write out your whole schedule so you know ho much time you have to do homework and to study, especially athletes. Another thing when studying is to practice good study habits so that when you get to college you don't struggle with the course load. Allison.ortiz1

My educational goal is to pursue pre-med so that I can further my education under oncology. I have family members on both parent’s sides that have battled with cancer which gives me more insight about cancer. This is what first sparked my interest in working in the field of oncology. Throughout my life, my mom has made a point to provide me with the healthiest foods and an absurd amount of vitamins and supplements. She does this in hopes that I stay healthy and can prevent me from getting cancer. Growing up surrounded by family members battling horrific disease and my mother exploring ways to prevent cancer has inspired me to pursue a career involving the prevention and/or treatment of cancer. I hope to help those who might have similar experiences as mine and my family members. Although radiation therapy mainly revolves around administering radiation treatment and consulting the patient in a time of need, I know that my job is helping reduce cancer for the patient and that they might be on a path to better health. I always have had an interest in studying and working in medicine but watching my grandma go through cancer at such a young age has helped me to realize I want to pursue a career in medicine. I want to help someone in the same way my grandma's doctors and nurses helped her.

Over my high school years I've figured out that I want to become a physical therapist through my own experience wit ha shoulder injury from over use. My physical therapist made an impact in my life that I am forever grateful for as well as inspiring me to look into physical therapy as a possible career option because of the help she was able to give me. Higher education is important to me because I want to be able to have a steady job that I like with a steady income that can provide me with all the necessities I need to live comfortably. I want to enjoy the process I go through to gain my education in my field of choice and not be miserable. Additionally, I want the major I choose to be one where I can make a positive impact in someones life. Gaining a higher education will allow me to make this positive impact. In society today, a higher education contributes to a well rounded individual in the specific field I would like to go into.

I am choosing to major in pre medicine because I've always had a fascination about the medical field. I want to become a physical therapist to be able to be apart of peoples journey wether it be from a minor injury of major injury. Being able to help people has always been something I've been passionate about and throughout my years in high school I grew a love for the medical field. I figured out I wanted to Become a physical therapist by my junior year because of my own experience within physical therapy. My therapist helped me throughout my injury, even though it was very minor, but still treated me as if my injury was just as important as the others who had more severe injuries compared to myself. Her positivity with me helped me reach a decision to want to do the same for others when I grow up.

I want to become a physical therapist to be able to be apart of peoples journey wether it be from a minor injury of major injury. Being able to help people has always been something I've been passionate about and throughout my years in high school I grew a love for the medical field. I figured out I wanted to Become a physical therapist by my junior year because of my own experience within physical therapy. My therapist helped me throughout my injury, even though it was very minor, but still treated me as if my injury was just as important as the others who had more severe injuries compared to myself. Her positivity with me helped me reach a decision to want to do the same for others when I grow up.

In my High School years I have learned the true definition of being a competitive athlete. Before high school I just did club but now I do club and high school swimming. I never really understood how eating properly affected how well I did until I started high school. I got injured my freshmen year from over use and from that point on nutrition has been a huge factor in me staying fit and healthy so that I don't re-injure myself. Since then I have limited the amount of sugar and dairy I eat and have added a lot more color to the meals that I already eat and I will proudly continue to do so throughout my college years and more. Adding more colors to my meals and not eating as much sugar and dairy has aided me in dropping a lot of time in my swimming and helped me reach my club goal of moving into the National group during my sophomore year, which I was very proud of. My nutrition has helped me reach levels in swimming I didn't believe I was capable of, but now I'm traveling with the National team to some of the most elite swim meets in Texas and the nation.