The quote "Be what you want to be and not what others want to see" truly resonates with me. Although my decision to go to a trade school and begin the process of getting my certificate as an appliance technician may not be the traditional route, I am truly happy with the decisions that I have made. This field not only allows me to better myself but also gives me the ability to serve others by fixing their appliances. My passion for this field has been strong for as long as I can remember. I always enjoyed working with my hands and loved to help my dad and brothers fix things around the house, such as the fridge and washer. This passion has fueled me to go to trade school and become a first-generation college student. Though many may look at my path as unorthodox, I truly believe this is what my calling is. I believe we are all meant to serve each other through our gifts and talents and that's what I plan to do with mine as my goal after trade school is to do free work such as fixing people's appliances for those who may not be able to afford. In conclusion, this scholarship would better help pay the tuition for my complete certification needed to work as an appliance technician and help kickstart my dream of owning my own appliance repair business shortly, which would better help me support my family and future family.

Hello, My name is Andre Joseph. I am Haitian, but I was born on the beautiful island of Nassau, Bahamas. I moved to the U.S. when I was just 8. I am a student at Wekiva High School and Orange Technical College. Due to the dual enrollment program, I plan to complete my certification in appliance technician by 2026 and begin my career right after. For the past year, I volunteered at the nonprofit Divine's Destiny's food and beverage pantry, where I logged in over 80 hours. Our mission was to glorify God through helping our community. My role was assisting with pickup, distribution, and organizing the inventory of the pantry and shed. Overall this experience made me a better leader and allowed me to better help my community.   I plan to work in the appliance repair field under a company for about 5 to 10 years. This hands-on experience will provide me with invaluable industry knowledge and skills. Afterwards, I intend to attend community college to pursue a degree in business, which would give me the necessary tools to successfully manage and operate my own appliance repair business.This scholarship would be great help in helping me pay the tuition to complete my certification. Currently, I am unsure how I will cover the costs, and this scholarship would greatly help to relieve my financial concerns. I would truly appreciate the support. I choose this field because it forces me to examine and analyze, as there are so many appliances out there, from refrigerators to washing machines and microwaves, each featuring their own components and switches and requiring distinct solutions to be solved. I also like the variety of opportunities within this field, as you either choose to work for a company or start your own business. You also have the options of working commercially or residentially or strictly selling appliances.   In conclusion, this scholarship would significantly assist in funding the tuition required to obtain the certification required to work as an appliance technician. It would also serve as a catalyst to initiate my dream of owning my own appliance repair business in the near future, thereby enabling me to better support my family and future generations. I am confident it will bring stability, security, and endless opportunities for growth and success. This award would be a pivotal stepping stone, empowering me to achieve my goals efficiently and push on in my career and also me to complete my education.