In June, I'm going to graduate from high school, and by the end of fall, I will be starting trade school at WyoTech. I will be attending their institution for a year, earning an associate's degree in their business management program, as well as completing a heavy-duty diesel mechanics program. After I graduate from WyoTech, I plan to work for a company to enhance my mechanical skills. Only for a few years, while I'm working, I plan to save money to open my own shop! My business plan is to have a big enough shop where semi-trucks, excavators, tractors, and various big machinery can fit inside. This will require a lot of space, and it will be very expensive. Currently, my hometown does not have a diesel shop that meets these needs. My goal is to be able to open that shop, but first, I'm gonna have to pay for college. As soon as I turned fifteen, I applied for a job. I have been working ever since; no, it has not been the same place. Sadly, I went through a few bad jobs to get a nice-ish job for high school. At the moment, I work at a coffee shop, but I've been saving every dollar since I first got a job. I knew from the beginning that my parents weren't going to be able to help me financially. My dad is the only one in my household with a job, while my mom chases her dream at college to be a hairdresser. He also has a wedding to pay for; my older sister is getting married this year, which is very exciting. It has been a challenge for my family, a couple of bad investments in vehicles, mostly, they broke down. Overall, it has just been some bad luck, and I've already taken out a loan to pay for school. Any scholarships would help support my future career goals, dreams, and the future of my community.

At the end of this fall, I will be attending WyoTech to pursue a career in Heavy Duty Diesel Mechanics, while also taking a business class to prepare for running my own business one day. I have chosen to enter the automotive industry because I have always been interested in how mechanical machinery operates. Late last year, I had the opportunity to start taking apart and tinkering with vehicles. My dad and I began working on a 1996 Nissan engine, which took quite a long time due to my school and work commitments. After starting this project, I discovered how much I enjoyed it and realized that I want to pursue this as a career in order to help people. Additionally, I became aware of how expensive vehicle repairs can be, which has motivated me to open my own shop that offers affordable services. This desire grew stronger after my grandmother had issues with her vehicle and was taken advantage of by repair shops. This scholarship would greatly assist me in paying for my education and help me establish my own shop, where we prioritize fair pricing, a safe work environment, and service calls. I also aspire to repair larger machinery, such as excavators and tractors, that cannot be brought to my shop, so I can go to them instead. Achieving my career goals would be possible with the support of this scholarship, benefiting not just myself, but also the future of my community.

I am pursuing a career as a heavy-duty diesel mechanic because diesel-powered machinery is the backbone of America. Without it, we wouldn't have farms, roads, trucks, or the essential services we rely on in our daily lives. While it may seem trivial to highlight this, the role of diesel mechanics is often overlooked. My goal is to open my own shop, and I am committed to working hard to secure funding or put in overtime to make it happen after I graduate from college. My business will offer service calls throughout the valley, ensuring that no vehicle or piece of machinery is ever out of commission. To make repairs more affordable for customers, we will provide various payment plans, as I believe that fixing vehicles can be expensive and that people are generally good. The shop will be spacious enough to accommodate all types of vehicles and large machinery. A key aspect of my vision is to provide my employees with benefits such as healthcare, vacation time, sick leave, and adequate lunch breaks to promote productivity. While this approach may lead to success in owning a business in this trade, the more important aspect is that I will be working diligently after I attend WyoTech this fall for their Heavy-Duty Diesel Mechanics and Business program. Although this education does not guarantee success, I am a driven individual with clear goals, and I plan to achieve them, even if it takes time. With the help of scholarships and the savings I’ve accumulated since I was fifteen, I will be able to take the first steps toward starting my career in this industry. To me, a successful life looks different from what it does for many. I imagine settling down and marrying my boyfriend, who truly believes in me. Our vision of a successful life is vivid and dreamlike. It involves me graduating from college, opening my business, and seeing it thrive. As the business succeeds, we hope to buy some land and build our dream home. We see ourselves getting married, having children, and sharing our interests with them, allowing them to discover their own passions. We will take our kids on adventures and teach them valuable life skills that will help them succeed. I envision growing old, and perhaps one day my children will take over my business. This is what a successful life looks like to me. However, I know I will be successful regardless of whether I achieve my fairytale dream of a family or open my business. I am confident in my ability to set and pursue goals because I have the drive to learn and achieve my dreams. Moreover, I am not alone in this journey; my boyfriend and family support me, which already brings me a sense of accomplishment in life.

My name is Allyson Paul, and I am proud to say that I will be the first and only member of my family to pursue a college education focused on trades. Growing up, my father was always surrounded by the world of trades; he dedicated his life to mastering various skills and taking on different projects. Although he never had the opportunity to attend college himself, he has infused our household with an extensive knowledge base that has saved us thousands of dollars over the years. Watching him tackle everything from plumbing issues to electrical problems has taught me the value of hard work, creativity, and resourcefulness. My father truly is my inspiration. He has this remarkable ability to fix things with his bare hands, often figuring out solutions that would leave most people pulling their hair out in frustration. His independence and handiwork have instilled in me a deep desire to cultivate my own skills, to be self-sufficient, and to face challenges head-on. While he has been the go-to person for most repairs and projects around the house, there is one area where he has never ventured: mechanics. This is where my passion lies. From a young age, I've been fascinated by how machines work. I love to solve puzzles and tackle challenges, and the mechanical world offers endless opportunities for this. While my dad has always shown little interest in mechanics, my attraction to it has only grown stronger over the years. To further fuel this passion, I have a boyfriend who is deeply engrossed in the world of mechanics. He enjoys working on cars and machinery and often encourages me to lend a hand. I find great joy in collaborating with him on projects, learning the intricacies of engines and components. His enthusiasm has truly inspired me to explore my own potential in this field. As I decided to take the next step in my life, I realized I didn’t want to limit myself to just working on standard day-to-day vehicles. Instead, I have set my sights on a more specialized area: heavy-duty diesel machinery. The complexity and challenge that come with working on these large machines excite me. I envision myself in a career where I can dive deeper into the mechanics of these powerful vehicles, ensuring they run efficiently and safely. The decision to pursue an education in diesel mechanics feels like the perfect blend of my aspirations, my admiration for my father’s hard work, and my willingness to learn from those around me. I can't wait to immerse myself in this new journey, honing my skills and potentially following in my father's footsteps in my own unique way. With dedication and perseverance, I hope to make him proud as I carve out my path in the world of trades.

By September 2026, I will be starting a Diesel Mechanics program at WyoTech. I have always wanted to pursue a career that is both enjoyable and beneficial to my community. Unfortunately, there are very few skilled mechanics in my area. My goal is to open my own heavy-duty diesel shop, where people can trust my work without fearing they will be overcharged. In my community, there is only one diesel mechanic in town, while the others are hours away. My shop will also allow me to help my family and the community. I really want to offer mentoring or job shadowing opportunities at local schools. So that other kids can experience different career options and have a real outlook on jobs. I want to help as many people as I can, especially in a blue-collar town like mine, where there is a lot of heavy equipment. College is expensive, and I currently earn minimum wage. My parents cannot assist me financially; my mother is also in college right now, and my father runs a struggling business in this tough economy. Despite these financial challenges, my parents have always found a way to make ends meet. Their hard work inspires me to strive for success so that financial obstacles do not burden either them or me. My parents both tell me that I will be able to pay off my student loans easily, and I understand that; however, I want to live comfortably after I graduate, not just get by. After college, I plan to buy some land, start building a house, and then establish a shop to work out of. Eventually, I want to buy equipment and start investing in the bigger picture. I understand that these goals won't be achieved overnight, but with the help of scholarships and grants, they will become more manageable.

Over the years, my family has faced many financial challenges. My mom has dealt with numerous medical issues that have impacted her ability to work and caused her a lot of pain. She eventually required neck surgery, and during that time, we struggled to afford food. Fortunately, we received assistance from our local food pantry. For that year, my father was our sole source of income, which was particularly tough, especially with COVID-19 looming. My parents have always found ways to make things work. Now, my mother is doing much better and is back in college, while my father runs his own business but is currently the sole income provider. Unfortunately, due to the economic situation, his business has not been doing well financially. He manages to pay all the bills, including various car expenses, and also contributes to my older sister’s college tuition. My goal is to secure as many scholarships as possible. I have been working various jobs outside of school to earn money for my education. I understand that my dad wants to help, but he simply can’t at the moment, and neither can my mom. I make sure to maintain good grades and be as responsible as possible. Regardless of the obstacles, I am determined to attend college and will find a way to pay for it. I will likely work a full-time job while in college to help cover my tuition. Being able to pay for college is my biggest concern at the moment, and I'm hopeful that I will be able to push through on my own. My mom worries about me, but she knows she can’t help. I am very thankful that they want to support me, even though I know they can’t. This scholarship would mean a lot to me. This money will help me push through this financial obstacle and give my family and me some peace of mind.

Trades have always been my passion. Ever since I was little, I’ve wanted to learn how to build and fix things. Most importantly, I wanted to become independent and save money by doing it myself. Financial struggles have always been part of my family’s life, but whenever I expressed an interest in learning something new, my parents found a way to support me. Usually, it involved my dad working extra hours or taking on odd jobs. He has worked in various trades over the years and can build or install almost anything, which has been incredibly beneficial for our family. His skills have inspired me to explore the trades as well. Recently, I started dating a boyfriend who has spent his whole life in trades, primarily in mechanics. Mechanics is an area I’ve always wanted to learn, but my dad didn’t have a particular interest in it. Thankfully, my boyfriend frequently fixes up vehicles and invites me to help him. I’ve discovered that I genuinely enjoy learning about mechanics. For instance, while he was rewiring his truck, he used a connector called a "butt" connector. At first, I thought he was joking, but it’s actually called that! I found it hilarious, and he was patient, helping me learn without making me feel foolish. I’ve realized that I want to pursue a formal education in mechanics. Although it's a bit of a risk because I might hate it, I believe it’s a career that could lead me to a fulfilling future. This scholarship would greatly assist in paying off my student loans and help me get on my feet after graduation. My dream is to open my own diesel mechanic shop, which aligns with the trade I’m pursuing. My shop would benefit not only me but also my family. Whenever they have car trouble, I could save them thousands of dollars by doing the work myself. Additionally, I want to give back to the community by offering job shadowing or mentoring opportunities for students. I know that if someone in my town had offered mentoring in mechanics when I was younger, I would have jumped at the chance to learn. My goal is to inspire other students to get interested in trades, as they are valuable and will continue to be essential. In summary, this scholarship would not only impact my life significantly but also benefit my family and the community as a whole.

Having a career that is always gonna be needed is what makes me excited about pursuing trade school. Not only is it a career where everyone uses it uknowingly, but it's also one that is challenging. It takes dedication and confidence to pursue any trade. Diesel Mechanic is the trade I plan to pursue. I start next fall in 2026 at WyoTech in Laramie, Wyoming, where they have an impressive Heavy Duty Diesel program. Not only do you get hands-on learning, but they also offer many ways to help you after you graduate. They set you up for a career that makes it all the more worthwhile to go, but it is also a very male-dominated field, which is also another reason I'm excited to pursue this career. My goal after I graduate is to get my student loans payed off within the first year after. While im doing this Im gonna focus on leveling up in my career as much as possible in which I can work for a company or a small business. After a couple years I hope to own some property to open my own shop and start my own business.

I plan to pursue a career in Diesel Mechanics, though I'm not entirely sure if I'm fully passionate about it. I've done a limited amount of mechanics work, but I believe this career has the potential to take me far in life. It will be beneficial for me, as I can eventually open my own shop, and with the right knowledge, I can repair my family's vehicles without them having to spend a fortune. For some reason, we've always had bad luck with vehicles, leading to expensive repairs. My family isn't rich, and while we're not poor, some days we can barely make ends meet. That's why I want to pursue this career—so that my family has every opportunity to have a reliable vehicle without going broke. Speaking of unreliable vehicles, we bought my sister a car, and within three months, the transmission failed. We then had to find her another vehicle, which resulted in my parents taking out a loan, putting a strain on their finances, as well as my sister's. Not long after that, my own car—a 2010 Chevy Equinox—had its engine blow up, which was frustrating since I had taken good care of it. It was also quite the oil guzzler; I had to add at least a quart every week. We learned not to buy used vehicles from Facebook Marketplace after those experiences. Thankfully, my parents were eventually able to purchase me a 2017 GMC Terrain from a dealership. I've had minimal problems with it, except for it being Front Wheel Drive, which makes it easy to get stuck in the winter. My family is gradually working through our loans and car payments. I’m confident that we’ll manage to pay them off each month, but some months are more challenging than others because my dad is the sole source of income. Meanwhile, my mom is currently in cosmetology school, which she’s funding herself. Some days, it feels like we won’t make it, but my parents always reassure me. I’m the only family member entering the trades, except for my dad, who inspires me. He started his own garage door business over two years ago. Some years have been easier than others, and right now, business is tough, but he believes he can survive and avoid failure. Even though it’s hard, he pushes through and has discovered that trying new things can lead to finding something you love. He worked for a garage door company about ten years ago without any prior knowledge, and after a year, he became the manager, which inspired him to open his own business. Despite starting with little understanding, he tried and found his passion. I’m hopeful that when I begin my journey in mechanics, I will also discover something I love, especially since I enjoy learning and solving problems. These are just a few challenges I’ve faced, and I look forward to overcoming even more in my new career!

The City of Polson is a great place already, but I could make it a better place by bringing in a Diesel Mechanics Shop. Currently, Polson has very few resources for a Diesel Mechanic, which is really hard on the town because we're a very blue-collar town and need big machinery to do a lot of the jobs around here. I could open my own shop and give people a place to bring their heavy equipment to get fixed. With it being my shop, I would also give out many job shadowing opportunities, as well as volunteer opportunities for young and aspiring kids to learn. If we had a shop like that, I would go volunteer, but sadly, we don't. That's how and why I could make Polson a better place to live.