My background is characterized by curiosity, responsibility, and the ability to solve problems when the solution is not obvious. As a child, I was raised in a single-parent family, and one of the first lessons that was impressed upon me was the importance of consistency and flexibility. This is reflected in my current interests in technology because I am interested in fields that involve problem-solving, logic, and service, and electrical engineering is one of the fields that I will specialize in while remaining close to information technology. What fascinates me the most about the technology industry is the way in which invisible systems enable the functionality of everyday life. Information technology and electrical engineering are interrelated disciplines. Hardware is irrelevant without software, and data cannot be transferred without the help of electrical systems. I am fascinated by the way in which electrical components, networking, and embedded systems enable devices to communicate with each other, store data, and function properly. Information technology is the visible part of the technology industry, while electrical engineering is the invisible part that makes it all possible. My most significant experience in technology is in robotics. I am deeply involved in my school’s robotics club, where I work directly with wires, sensors, motors, and controllers, as well as debugging system failures. My experience in robotics has taught me that technology is never a standalone phenomenon. One loose wire, one bug in code, or one communication breakdown can cause the entire system to fail. This is exactly what IT requires. You need to understand how different pieces of technology work together, be able to quickly identify problems, and think logically about them. Robotics has challenged me to think like an engineer while also teaching me the problem-solving skills required in IT. Apart from robotics, I am also involved in various academic clubs that use technology, such as Quiz Bowl and Science Olympiad, where rapid data processing, logic, and technical knowledge are critical. I also have experience working with computers and am comfortable with various software applications and new platforms. In addition to my technical skills, my leadership experiences have also taught me the value that technology plays in helping the human population. For instance, I am part of the leadership team for the faith club at my school. Additionally, I help with the technology needs at church. From my experiences, technology is not just about innovation; it is also about accessibility. Electrical engineering is my chosen field because I like to start things from the ground up. However, I also like to be involved with the IT field because this is where technology meets the human population. My goal is to be in an environment where the three come together.

My academic and professional aspirations stem from two things that have affected my life the most: engineering and service. I want to pursue a course in engineering because I enjoy solving problems and understanding how things work. However, engineering is not only about solving problems and understanding things; it is also about serving humanity with what I have learned. I want a career that will enable me to serve other people, particularly those who feel like they are not supported. Along with my educational aspirations, service has been one of the most important facets of my personality and being. I am extremely active in my local church, where I volunteer and participate in the worship team. I also help lead a Jesus Club at my school, which is run and led by students and was started as a means to provide a safe environment where students can ask questions, share openly, and feel recognized and appreciated. Many of the kids come to the club with stress, anxiety, and troubles at home, and I have learned the power of simply being there and listening to them. Giving back to my community has altered my view of the world. I have learned that so many people in this world are living in quiet struggles. I have also learned that a small act can go a long way. Being present in my community has inspired me to want a life that makes an impact, not a name. I have learned that if you do not use your successes to help others, they mean nothing. My journey has also influenced my goals. For example, I have ADHD and have had to deal with the pressure of always performing at an exceptional level academically. For a while, my self-worth was defined by my performance and achievement at school. It has not been easy, and I have often found myself feeling drained and disappointed. However, over time, my faith and community have taught me that it is not about perfection but about growth. This has influenced my approach to my studies and my community service. This scholarship will help alleviate the financial stress and allow me to concentrate on my education and service. More importantly, it will enable me to achieve my goal of becoming a person who uses knowledge, faith, and leadership to make a difference. I want to be an engineer who serves with purpose and a leader who never forgets where he came from. I am dedicated to using every opportunity that I receive to give back and help build a better world.

God has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. I have been in church my whole life, and it probably looked like I had a natural faith in God. I knew God was real. I believed in Him. But my faith wasn’t really a relationship with God. It was familiarity. As I grew older, life was not easy; it was heavy. My life was complicated, and stability was not normal. However, I learned early on how to carry this in silence. Also, I was dealing with ADHD and the after-effects of the medication. Although the medication was helping me succeed in school, it was also giving me anxiety, making me lose my appetite, and making me feel like I had to earn my worth through my grades, success, or putting my life together. I sometimes felt like I was doing the right things in church but not really letting God into my life. There have been times when I have questioned myself constantly. I felt like I was in a state of chaos, disconnected, and unsure of who I really was without expectations on me. I believed in God, but I didn’t trust Him with my struggles. I kept Him at an arms-length, afraid that if I told Him how I really felt, I would show weakness. I now know that that was the time in my life when I needed Him the most. But it all started to shift when I finally let go of trying to control everything on my own. It was through worship, prayer, and quiet moments of surrender that my faith became personal. God met me in my not-so-refined, not-so-confident state, but in my real state. It was then that I started to grasp that my worth wasn’t measured by what I produced or how well I did things, but by who I was as God’s child. This brought a peace I’d never known before. As I grew in my walk with God, I began to understand my purpose. Ministry, which I had always admired from afar, became something I felt a calling to. Being part of the worship team and being involved in church ministry opened my eyes to the power of presence, compassion, and faith expressed every day. I saw how God can take a broken story and use it to bring hope to others, and I began to see that my own struggles weren’t in vain. My experiences with ADHD, family struggles, and mental health issues did not drive me away from God; they drew me closer to Him. These experiences have helped me develop compassion, strength, and a commitment to serving others authentically. With my sights set on a life of service in ministry, my faith will be the guiding force in how I lead, serve, and love others well. God has not simply changed my circumstances; He has changed my heart. All of my struggles have led me to this place, and I am committed to following Him wherever He may lead me.

God has been a part of my life as long as I can remember. I have been in church my whole life, and it probably looked like I had a natural faith in God. I knew God was real. I believed in Him. But my faith wasn’t really a relationship with God. It was familiarity. As I grew older, life was not easy; it was heavy. My life was complicated, and stability was not normal. However, I learned early on how to carry this in silence. Also, I was dealing with ADHD and the after-effects of the medication. Although the medication was helping me succeed in school, it was also giving me anxiety, making me lose my appetite, and making me feel like I had to earn my worth through my grades, success, or putting my life together. I sometimes felt like I was doing the right things in church but not really letting God into my life. There have been times when I have questioned myself constantly. I felt like I was in a state of chaos, disconnected, and unsure of who I really was without expectations on me. I believed in God, but I didn’t trust Him with my struggles. I kept Him at an arms-length, afraid that if I told Him how I really felt, I would show weakness. I now know that that was the time in my life when I needed Him the most. But it all started to shift when I finally let go of trying to control everything on my own. It was through worship, prayer, and quiet moments of surrender that my faith became personal. God met me in my not-so-refined, not-so-confident state, but in my real state. It was then that I started to grasp that my worth wasn’t measured by what I produced or how well I did things, but by who I was as God’s child. This brought a peace I’d never known before. As I grew in my walk with God, I began to understand my purpose. Ministry, which I had always admired from afar, became something I felt a calling to. Being part of the worship team and being involved in church ministry opened my eyes to the power of presence, compassion, and faith expressed every day. I saw how God can take a broken story and use it to bring hope to others, and I began to see that my own struggles weren’t in vain. My experiences with ADHD, family struggles, and mental health issues did not drive me away from God; they drew me closer to Him. These experiences have helped me develop compassion, strength, and a commitment to serving others authentically. With my sights set on a life of service in ministry, my faith will be the guiding force in how I lead, serve, and love others well. God has not simply changed my circumstances; He has changed my heart. All of my struggles have led me to this place, and I am committed to following Him wherever He may lead me.

For me, calculus is more than just a tough math class. It is a way of thinking about how change happens, and this is at the heart of almost every field of STEM. Calculus is a way of taking abstract ideas and using them as tools to understand real-world motion and problem-solving. What makes calculus so relevant in STEM fields is that it allows us to understand how things change over time. In science and engineering, nothing remains constant. Things move, forces change, and everything varies simultaneously. Calculus provides us with a way of understanding these concepts. Otherwise, many of these concepts would remain abstract rather than being applicable in practice. As someone who is interested in the field of engineering, calculus helps me realize the role that math plays in making my ideas a reality. While the idea of calculus may be represented by equations and numbers, the actual application of the derivative and integral is the study of velocity, acceleration, energy, and efficiency. Whether it is the design of safer buildings, the improvement of electrical systems, or the allocation of resources, calculus is the way that engineers can predict the outcome before something is actually built. Calculus has also shown me how to think in a different way. It is one of those things that forces you to take a step back, analyze problems, and consider how small changes relate to the larger picture. This is a huge benefit in the world of STEM, where problems are rarely easily solvable. Learning calculus has taught me to be patient with problems and to trust myself to work through them rather than around them. Calculus, however, has applications in many other areas of engineering. It is linked to almost every other field in STEM. In physics, for instance, it can be used to describe motion and forces. In biology, it can be used to describe the growth of populations and the spread of diseases. In computer science, it can be used to optimize algorithms. It can even be used in environmental studies to predict climate patterns and energy efficiency. The part of calculus that I think is the most valuable is that it mirrors the way that problems really behave. Life is not static, and neither are the problems that we try to solve in STEM. Calculus teaches students how to think dynamically, not just about numbers. This is just as important as the knowledge itself. Ultimately, calculus is important in STEM because it brings theory and application together. It makes ideas turn into solutions and curiosity turn into progress. As I continue towards my goal of having a career in engineering, calculus will continue to impact my life by not only allowing me to calculate answers, but by allowing me to think critically and adapt to change.

Mental health has been a background influencer in helping shape who I have become, how I interact with the world around me, and what I hope to achieve in my future. While being a child with ADHD impacted my academic concentration in a significant way, it impacted many other areas as well. As a young kid, I was diagnosed with ADHD. Medication became a regular part of my life. Although it enabled me to stay focused on my academic life, it came with some side effects that were difficult for a kid like me to comprehend. I stopped eating, felt like I was in a daze most of the time, and experienced issues of body image. I felt like I needed to succeed in my academic life and yet I felt like I didn’t like my own body or mind. This eventually created an unhealthy dependency on my medication because I felt like I needed it to be good enough. These events have influenced my views on mental health. I have learned that struggles are not always visible and that just because someone is doing well on the outside, it does not mean that they are okay on the inside. I have also become more aware of the ease in which people can struggle in silence, especially students who feel the pressure to perform or meet expectations. This has influenced how I interact with others. I attempt to listen more intently, be more patient, and allow people to be honest with me. I understand the importance of being understood rather than judged. Mental health issues also affected my sense of purpose. I found a space where vulnerability was not only tolerated, but celebrated, in my ministry. Being part of my church’s worship team and being involved in ministry showed me the power of positive presence and encouragement. I learned that faith, belonging, and being open can provide people with strength in their burdens. I learned that sometimes helping people doesn’t necessarily mean fixing their problems, sometimes it’s just being with them. At the same time, my ADHD contributed to my desire to study engineering. The way my mind works is unique. It is creative and innovative in problem-solving. It enjoys building systems that create order in chaos. Engineering provides me with an outlet for my creativity and innovation in building systems that create order in chaos. It is not enough for me to create systems and solutions; it is important that these systems and solutions impact and positively affect others, especially those who are ignored and do not receive support. In the future, it is my hope that I can combine my passions for engineering and ministry in such a way that I can impact and positively affect others. It is my hope that I can create systems and solutions that impact others in positive ways and that I can be someone who understands mental health issues and can provide safe spaces where people can be honest about their issues. The challenges of having ADHD and mental health issues did not hold me back; it provided me with opportunities to be empathetic, resilient, and purposeful.

For a while, education was not just about grades and college for me; it was about direction. Growing up in a single-family home because of my parents’ divorce, I learned early on the value of stability. I was mostly raised by my mom and my sister, but while my dad was always around, the burden of raising two kids fell squarely on my mom’s shoulders. What she did and the way she did it had a huge impact on what I would eventually learn to value most. School became one of the few constants in my life. It was a place where order existed while things were uncertain at home. At first, education was a pressure. I struggled with the idea of having to prove myself at all times, not only as a student but also as a person. I wanted to succeed, not only for myself but also because I felt I had a responsibility to live up to all that my mom had invested in me and my siblings. Eventually, this pressure became my motivation. One of the greatest challenges that I have faced in my education journey thus far is learning to deal with personal and emotional challenges while still attending classes each and every day. There have been times when I have wondered if I was really capable of achieving all of the goals that I set out for myself. However, education has provided me with something concrete and tangible. It has reminded me that learning is not always linear and that it is often about perseverance and not necessarily about perfection. As I went further in my high school education, education began to play a larger role in my idea of direction. I found that I had a passion for problem-solving, creativity, and making things that actually mattered. When I thought about the idea of engineering, it wasn’t just the technical aspects of the field that drew me in, it was the idea of making a difference. Education wasn’t just something that had a finish line anymore; it was something that I could use to actually make a difference in the world. At the same time, my experiences outside of the education realm had a huge impact on my direction. Being involved in the ministry and actually making a difference for others had opened my eyes to the power of encouragement and the need for people. There were so many people out there who were struggling, and so many of them had no support. This had a huge impact on my attitude towards my education and my life. It wasn’t enough for me to be successful and have people recognize me for it. Balancing academics, leadership, and personal growth has not always been easy. There were moments when I felt like I was being pulled in all directions and wasn’t sure if I was doing enough or even doing the right things. However, I realized that these moments were opportunities for me to think about who I was becoming. I learned through my education that I was a person with discipline. I also learned through my education that I was a person with empathy. I learned that learning is not only about learning, but also about learning people. I learned through my education how to think critically and how to communicate effectively. I learned through my education how to stay committed even when things were overwhelming. I learned through my education that my background is not a limitation for my future. It is actually a strength. I learned through my education that my background is what shapes my ambition and my purpose. Going forward, I hope to use my education to create a better future not only for myself but also for others. In this regard, I plan to study engineering, which will help me to make a positive impact on the community through the solving of various problems. In this regard, my education will not be passive but will instead be a tool for making a positive impact on the community. Although I have not fully outlined my future, I know that education has given me a sense of direction, purpose, and self-assurance. It has also helped me to know how to overcome various challenges without losing touch with my roots. From my experiences, I have noted that who I am becoming is just as important as where I am going, and I will continue to use education to achieve this. I want my education to reflect not just my ambition, but my heart for service, growth, and becoming someone who lifts others as I continue to rise.

Growing up my family was not the kind of “normal” that people would expect to see. My parents did not stay married, and I grew up with my single mom and sister most of my life. My father would be around on the weekends, but the bulk of the responsibility of raising my sister and me fell squarely on my mom’s shoulders. I have to say that my mom was a hard worker and did the best she could to keep our little household running smoothly. There were some tough times, but despite the tough times, my mom made sure that my sister and I knew we had someone to turn to and be there for us. My mom was always willing to make sacrifices for my sister and me, even if it meant sacrificing some of her own comfort and sleep. However, living in a blended family also sometimes presented its own set of challenges. There were times when there was confusion, tension, and emotional stress. Dealing with these situations has taught me to grow up fast and learn how to deal with tough emotions. Rather than making me tough and hardened, these experiences have taught me to be more sensitive to how much family situations impact people. I have become more patient, more understanding, and more attuned to what people might be dealing with beneath the surface. Perhaps one of the most important things that my childhood has taught me is the value of empathy. I understand what it is like to have to live with uncertainty and to have to depend on someone who is doing the best they can even when the odds are against them. This has influenced how I treat other people. I pay attention to people who are struggling and try to be there for them in small but significant ways. Whether it is listening, encouraging, or helping out where I can, I want people to know that they are seen. As I look forward to my future, I don’t have it all mapped out, but I know the direction I want my life to go in. I want to use my talents in a way that will benefit people. I’m interested in engineering, but I want more than that. I want to make a difference. I want to make things, solve problems, and use my talents in a way that will serve communities that maybe haven’t been as supported as others. Being in a single-parent household has taught me so much, and I have my mom’s strength and resilience to thank for that. It has taught me the importance of giving back. Where my career path takes me, I know that helping people will always be at the forefront.

I decided to major in a field of study in the STEM field because I have always been an individual who is curious about how things work and how they can work better. I have always been an individual who is interested in problem-solving, whether that be building, fixing, and/or rethinking things that do not work the way they are supposed to work. I believe that the field of study in the STEM field will provide me with the opportunity to do just that, to take my curiosity and my ideas and do something with them that can possibly affect others in a positive way. I believe that the field of engineering is particularly interesting because it is not just based on logic, but also on creativity. I have learned that failure is not just an option, but also a tool that helps you learn how to do things better. I have learned this through my work with things such as robots, advanced math and science courses, and other projects. As a person of color, being part of the STEM field has a deeper significance to me. There have been times when I have not seen individuals of the same color as mine in advanced positions within the STEM field. Therefore, being part of this field and making a difference in the lives of others by being part of the solution to the lack of diversity within the STEM field would be fulfilling. I believe that I would make a difference in the STEM field by being part of the solution and bringing empathy to the table. The field of STEM has often focused on the technology and the solution while forgetting the people it was meant to help in the first place. Therefore, being part of this field and making a difference would be fulfilling to me. In addition to engineering, my experience in the ministry and leadership roles has also played a part in how I see my role in the world of STEM. I see innovation as a form of service. Using my skills in the world of STEM to make a difference in the world is in line with my values of community, integrity, and compassion. I see a need to mentor younger students, especially those of color, and help them see that the world of STEM is a place where they belong and can make a difference. Choosing a career in the world of STEM is a choice to take responsibility. It is a commitment to a lifelong learning plan and to using that learning wisely. Being a person of color in the world of STEM is a source of pride and purpose. I see a need to make a difference in the world through innovation, leadership, and service. The world of STEM needs diverse voices to build a future that works for all people. I am committed to being one of those voices.

I have always been an individual who, when faced with a problem, would turn to themselves and say, “There has to be a better way to do this.” One thing I have designed to solve a problem was within my robotics team. I was one of the team captains, and I was one of the builders on the team. One thing that was causing us problems was our intake system. It would jam frequently, have problems staying aligned, and slow us down during competitions. I did not believe this was “good enough” and therefore designed a new system for our team’s intake. It would use angled rollers and have a simpler system for mounting. I went through several different prototypes, testing different materials, spacing, and other things, and eventually designed a system that would work well under pressure. Not only did this new system work well, but it was also beneficial for the rest of the team, as it would reduce our stress level and allow us to focus on strategy rather than solving problems during the match. If I had the money and the resources available to me, I would like to address the issue I see on a daily basis: the lack of a safe and welcoming environment for students who are feeling overwhelmed and disconnected. I see a lot of students who are silently struggling with their own issues, be it stress, mental health concerns, or the feeling that they just do not belong. I would like to create a student-centered community space that incorporates technology, creativity, and support. My plan would be to create modular rooms that can be adjusted in terms of lighting and sound, and furniture that can be rearranged to create a room that the student needs. I would like to create a space that is not only functional but also supportive. I would like technology to be integrated into the room through interactive technology displays, sound systems that are calming, and technology that will allow the student to be creative through music, design, and building. The space would also include workshops by mentors in engineering, art, and leadership that help students convert their stress into creativity. The funding would be used for the purchase of sustainable materials, accessibility needs, and training student leaders to help manage the space. The intention is not to “fix” the student; it is to provide them with a space where they can breathe, create, and grow. This is how I approach problem-solving: pinpointing the problem, listening to the people impacted by the problem, creating thoughtfully, and refining continuously. To me, creativity is not just the ability to create new things. To me, creativity is care. When I design a robot mechanism or a support space for people, I want to create solutions that help people function better, that help them feel seen and heard, and that help them move forward with confidence.

I had both parents in my life, but my childhood was marked by separation, turbulence, and the need to learn to adapt from a young age. When my parents divorced, my life became two separate worlds. I spent most of my time with my single mom and sister, and the weekends with my dad. Even though my dad was still in my life, the distance and tension made things complicated and emotionally tough. Growing up with my mom taught me the value of being responsible from a young age. My mom was the rock that held the family together, and I learned from her strength and resilience as she struggled to keep everything together for my sister and me. There were times when things were tough, and money was scarce, but she remained strong. Growing up in a single-parent family taught me the values of independence, empathy, and resilience. Having my dad on the weekends also came with its own set of challenges. It was hard to adjust between both worlds, especially when the home environment became unpredictable. Having a difficult relationship with my step-parent made things even more complicated, and at times it seemed as if I had to grow up too quickly. It was as if I was stuck in the middle, trying to figure out where I belonged and how to deal with emotions that were beyond my years. One thing that I realized that helped me to change is that I could not control what was going on around me, but I could control my response to what was going on. I could have used what was going on to harden me, but I used what I learned to seek out consistency and purpose. That consistency and purpose came in the form of church. Being in ministry and on the worship team provided me with a sense of stability in a time of division and chaos at home. I learned many things, like discipline, working together, and humility, but most importantly, I learned that I am not defined by chaos and brokenness. I am proud of many things, but one thing that I am proud of is that I have found my voice and my identity through leadership and service. Whether that meant leading in church, leading others emotionally, or leading others in a leadership role at school, I realized that I had a lot to offer due to what I had been through in a single-parent household and a complicated family dynamic. This upbringing has shown me that strength is not found in a perfect situation. Strength is found in perseverance, support, and growth. My experiences have granted me maturity, understanding, and an appreciation for stability. My experiences have shaped the person I am today and encouraged a future that is built on serving, integrity, and perseverance.

Adversity has been a part of my life since I was young, but I would say that one of the hardest things that I had to deal with was learning how to live with ADHD and how to succeed within the boundaries that were set for me. I felt like I had to work twice as hard just to get by. School was something that did not come naturally to me. The medication that I was put on came with a number of problems as well. It affected how I felt about myself and how I felt about food. It also made me feel like I was losing control of who I was becoming. At the same time, I was under pressure from both sides. One parent was for the drug, while the other was against it, which made me feel guilty regardless of the decision I made. If I chose to take it, I would feel guilty, and if I chose not to, I would feel even worse. This led to my over dependence on academic approval. I found myself thinking that my identity was wrapped up in my grades, performance, and how productive I looked in comparison to my peers. Seeing people around me not working as hard as I did and still getting good grades made me feel invisible. What has helped me in dealing with this adversity is finding my purpose in something other than achievement. Ministry has been that for me. Being part of the worship team at my church has given me something that school never did: peace. Worship has taught me that my worth is not based on output or perfection. It has taught me consistency, discipline, and humility. Being up on that stage was not about being noticed, but about making others feel noticed. Worship has helped me stay grounded and reminded me that I do not have to earn my worth. Through my experiences in ministry, I learned to control my struggles rather than letting them control me. I began to learn healthier ways to cope with my ADHD, not relying so much on medication but more on structure, prayer, and self-discovery. I learned to be more patient and realized that I do not have to progress at lightning speed to be successful. This struggle made me into a person who leads with compassion because I know what it is like to feel like I am behind, to be misunderstood, and to feel overwhelmed. To anyone who is dealing with similar experiences, I say this: you must not tie your sense of self-worth to your ability to perform. You are more than your problems, your diagnoses, your failures. You need something that brings you back to who you are outside of your successes. Adversity is not weakness. Adversity is often strength. What I used to consider my greatest weakness has become the strength of my leadership, of my service to others.

Some of the most impactful volunteering I have done has not necessarily been a large event or endeavor, but it has been showing up and serving where I am needed. I have been involved with ministry through my church for years, and I believe this has greatly impacted my view of leading through service. A big part of how I serve through my church is through the worship team. Being part of the worship team at my church means much more than just playing music and singing on the stage. It means helping to provide an environment where people feel safe, comfortable, and encouraged to be themselves. I volunteer my time to practice, prepare, and lead the worship service because I know that music has the power to touch people when words cannot. People come to church with a lot of stress, doubt, and pain, and the worship service provides a safe environment for them to breathe, to be encouraged, and to be supported. Serving on the worship team has taught me that leadership is not always the loud and obvious action, but it can be the quiet, prepared, and humble action to help others have a great experience. I have also assisted in organizing and directing ministry work at my church. I helped organize and direct a Jesus Club at my school. This directly relates to my volunteering work outside of church. It takes a lot of courage to organize meetings and encourage students to come. It also takes a lot of courage to lead with kindness and patience, especially when students come from different backgrounds and have questions about faith. This experience has taught me that leadership through service means listening first and meeting people where they are. Volunteering through ministry is important to me because it is about people, not awards. I am not required to do any of my volunteering work. I volunteer because I believe that leadership is about giving, not taking. Leadership is about being a hero when nobody is around to see it. Leadership through service is a significant aspect of leadership because it helps in building trust and a sense of community. When people realize that leaders are also serving, it helps in creating a sense of connection and respect. Leadership through service helps in changing the culture of a group because it makes the group more compassionate and united. Through my experiences of serving in the ministry and the worship team, I have come to realize that the best leaders are those who serve and love.

Math is an important tool that helps people in more ways than most people realize. Many people believe that if they do not want to be a mathematician or an engineer, then mathematics is not important to them. However, mathematics is in everyday life, and most people are unaware of that. Mathematics helps people to be confident, to solve problems, and to make good decisions, not only for themselves but also for others. On a basic level, mathematics is useful to people because it helps them run their own lives. It helps them manage money, plan ahead, and not go into debt. It helps them understand things like interest rates, paychecks, and bills, so they are not taken advantage of. Mathematics is useful for measuring, estimating, and planning, whether it is cooking, making something, or even planning out how to spend one’s time. While it is not necessarily exciting, it is useful and makes life a lot easier and a lot less stressful. Math also teaches people how to think. Math teaches people how to use their brain to solve problems step by step instead of panicking or giving up on things. When things do not go right, math teaches people to stop and look at things another way. Such thinking helps people in schools, work, and relationships. Life may not always have clear answers, but math teaches people how to be patient. For me, the relevance of math comes from the fact that math relates directly to engineering. Engineering is about solving problems for the greater good, like building safer structures, developing better technology, and designing more efficient systems. Math is the basis for engineering because, without math, engineering would not exist. Math has also helped me relate to my faith because I believe math represents order and purpose in the world. When I look at the patterns, structure, and logic of math, I realize that the world is not random. I also believe math helps me be humble because I realize I don’t know everything, and I believe math helps me be honest because I know the answer is usually right and cannot be wrong. Math has helped me grow as a person because I am not just learning and becoming a better student; I am becoming a better person because of the lessons I’ve learned from math about the importance of humility and honesty.Understanding math enables people to be capable, confident, and thoughtful. Math opens doors to new careers, enhances decision-making, and provides skills for a lifetime. Math is more than numbers on a page. It is a tool that helps people serve others and build a better tomorrow.

Mental health is something that I witness every day, not just in others, but in myself as well. I live with ADHD, and for a long time, it made me feel like I was always behind, like I was doing something wrong. But this experience has allowed me to understand the importance of patience, understanding, and grace, not just for myself, but for the people around me as well. It has given me the ability to understand when someone else might not be doing well, even if they don’t voice it out loud.I assist people through ministry work. I take time to listen to people, accompany them through difficult times of anxiety, doubt, and feeling like they are not enough. Many believe that solving mental health problems requires complex solutions, but sometimes, all a person may need is to feel seen, heard, and reminded that there is hope. I assist people through prayer, conversations, and actions that help them take care of themselves. I ensure that they know that they are not broken and that their problems do not define who they are. I encounter many students every day who feel overwhelmed, lost, or feel like they are not enough, and I remind them that there is a solution and that they do not have to go through this alone. I intend to study engineering, focusing on electrical engineering, as well as continue with ministry. Through my studies, I will learn discipline, problem-solving, and how to develop things that can make a difference in people’s lives. Ministry, on the other hand, helps me understand how to take care of people emotionally and spiritually. By combining the two, I am able to help others in a genuine and lasting way. I would like to apply what I have learned to develop technology for the ethical service of people, as well as help those who are struggling mentally by mentoring and supporting them. I aim to be a source of clarity, stability, and hope wherever I go.

Engineering and ministry have always been a part of my life, even before I really knew what either one meant. When I was younger, I was a kid sitting in church, helping where I could. I watched leaders pour into people and change their lives in ways that were quiet but profound. Ministry was never just something I did on Sundays. It is a part of how I see people, how I listen to them, and how I care about the world. That is who I am today. As I grew older, a second passion emerged alongside the first one. Engineering. I have always been fascinated by the way things work, the way technology can be advanced, and the way a simple redesign can make something more accessible or more beneficial to another person. Electrical engineering is something that excites me because I see it as limitless. Technology is a part of almost every aspect of our lives, and being a person who can create that technology responsibly and creatively is a way of serving the world in a bigger way. For me, engineering is not separate from ministry; engineering is another way of loving my community. I am of Hispanic descent, Mexican and Puerto Rican, and there is a lot of pressure that can feel like a weight on your shoulders. A lot of pressure to be a somebody, a somebody that is stable, a somebody that is safe, a somebody that has a clear and defined path that can be drawn on a piece of paper and said to be secure. I have felt this pressure, and I have felt this pressure to the point where I have wondered whether I was even allowed to chase a calling that felt un-secure and unconventional. My decision to pursue engineering was not a rejection of my family or my culture. It was an affirmation of them as I chose to fully live out my purpose. I hope to demonstrate that faith, culture, and innovation can coexist. I hope to encourage younger students, especially those who look like me, that they do not have to choose between serving God, serving their communities, and pursuing their ambitious careers. My aim is to make an impact both inside and outside the church. I want to make technology that makes a difference in people's lives. I want to mentor, lead, and create spaces where people feel seen and valued. Ministry taught me how to love people. Engineering gives me the tools to help them. Together, they are not just what I do. They are who I am.

Living with ADHD has affected a great deal of my life, even though many do not understand the extent to which it has. They might think that I just have trouble concentrating or staying organized, but ADHD was so much more than that. ADHD affected my life by the way I learned, the way I viewed myself, and the way I attempted to prove that I was “enough.” As I began taking medication for my ADHD, I was able to concentrate on my schoolwork. However, the medication also took away my appetite. I was not hungry, nor did I want to be hungry. Eventually, my lack of hunger became an unhealthy state. Food was something that I needed to “earn” by taking my medication, but food was also something that I needed to avoid by taking my medication. That is when my abuse of my ADHD medication began. I was not trying to harm myself, but I was unaware of any other options. The hardest part of all was probably going to school. I worked so hard just to keep up and stay on the same level as everyone else. I would stay up late studying and push myself mentally, while I saw others not putting in as much effort and still succeeding. I didn’t know how to handle this, and it hurt more than I let on. I became so dependent on my grades and academic achievements to make me feel good about myself. I felt good if I did well, and I felt like I had failed as a person if I didn’t. But at home, things were complicated too. One parent was supportive of me taking my medication and trusted that it was helping me. The other parent was not supportive of me taking my medication and was worried about what it was doing to me. I felt as though I was being pulled in two different directions. When I was taking my medication, I felt guilty. When I was not taking my medication, I felt as though I was letting everyone down. This made everything worse, and instead of teaching me balance, I fell further and further into extremes. But now, I am learning how to take control of my own health. I am learning how to live with ADHD without allowing the medication to define my identity and my body. I am learning how to slowly pull away from the reliance and build real discipline, structure, and self-trust. It is not easy, but it is honest. My aspiration is to go into engineering and ministry. I want to build things, fix problems, and help people who feel like they're being ignored or overwhelmed, like I used to. I want to help children who feel like they have to earn their own worth. ADHD has been a teacher of struggle, but also a teacher of empathy. And that is something that I will take with me into my future.

Living with ADHD has affected a great deal of my life, even though many do not understand the extent to which it has. They might think that I just have trouble concentrating or staying organized, but ADHD was so much more than that. ADHD affected my life by the way I learned, the way I viewed myself, and the way I attempted to prove that I was “enough.” As I began taking medication for my ADHD, I was able to concentrate on my schoolwork. However, the medication also took away my appetite. I was not hungry, nor did I want to be hungry. Eventually, my lack of hunger became an unhealthy state. Food was something that I needed to “earn” by taking my medication, but food was also something that I needed to avoid by taking my medication. That is when my abuse of my ADHD medication began. I was not trying to harm myself, but I was unaware of any other options. The hardest part of all was probably going to school. I worked so hard just to keep up and stay on the same level as everyone else. I would stay up late studying and push myself mentally, while I saw others not putting in as much effort and still succeeding. I didn’t know how to handle this, and it hurt more than I let on. I became so dependent on my grades and academic achievements to make me feel good about myself. I felt good if I did well, and I felt like I had failed as a person if I didn’t. But at home, things were complicated too. One parent was supportive of me taking my medication and trusted that it was helping me. The other parent was not supportive of me taking my medication and was worried about what it was doing to me. I felt as though I was being pulled in two different directions. When I was taking my medication, I felt guilty. When I was not taking my medication, I felt as though I was letting everyone down. This made everything worse, and instead of teaching me balance, I fell further and further into extremes. But now, I am learning how to take control of my own health. I am learning how to live with ADHD without allowing the medication to define my identity and my body. I am learning how to slowly pull away from the reliance and build real discipline, structure, and self-trust. It is not easy, but it is honest. My aspiration is to go into engineering and ministry. I want to build things, fix problems, and help people who feel like they're being ignored or overwhelmed, like I used to. I want to help children who feel like they have to earn their own worth. ADHD has been a teacher of struggle, but also a teacher of empathy. And that is something that I will take with me into my future.

I'm a senior in high school, and I think that community is created through care, presence, and action. I've always been involved in service work for others, especially for young people, because I know how important it is to feel seen, safe, and supported. My community work has made me the person I am today and has taught me the importance of protecting each other, in person and online. One of the biggest ways that I help my community is through my church. I am in leadership in our youth programs and also on the worship team as a vocalist. Being in leadership has allowed me the opportunity to work with our middle school and high school students, who are going through so many pressures, insecurities, and bullying. I want to be someone that these kids can trust and talk to. Whether it is during small groups, worship nights, or one-on-one, I make it my priority to create an environment where people feel safe and valued. Outside of the church, I am involved in several school activities, such as the National Honor Society, robotics club, and academic teams. These activities have taught me the value of teamwork and responsibility. At the same time, they have taught me that bullying can happen in subtle ways. Bullying is not just physical; bullying can also be jokes that cross the line or people that are left out of the group. When I witness bullying of this sort, I try to intervene. I encourage people to speak out if they witness bullying. I also try to educate people that the words they use can hurt others, especially when they are posted online. Cyberbullying is a problem that I consider serious. I believe that the only way to prevent cyberbullying is through education. I try to educate younger people to be careful of the things they post or the way they treat people online. I also try to educate people that the people they bully or treat badly online are human beings. As I get ready to enter higher education, my financial needs are considerable. I come from a family that works hard, but the cost of higher education is something that is a challenge for me. With the cost of tuition, room, books, and other fees, it can be overwhelming. However, I have worked throughout my high school years to try to support myself, and scholarships will be vital to my ability to continue my education without constant worry about how I will pay my way. This scholarship will be much more than just a financial award to me. It will be an opportunity for me to concentrate on my studies, continue my service to my community, and take my efforts to a higher level to protect and serve youth. I will continue to serve my community of students, focusing on leadership, faith-based service, and mentorship. I want to be a person who stands up against bullying and makes my fellow students feel safe, confident, and supported. Being a difference-maker does not always require a large platform. It can begin with showing up, listening, and being kind. This is what I aim to do on a daily basis, and this is the kind of difference I will continue to make in my world and beyond.

The movie The Shack has had the most significant impact on my life because it has changed my understanding of God pain, and what it means to be enough. When I first saw the movie The Shack, I did not expect it to have the impact on me that it did. I thought it would be another Christian movie with easy answers, but it seemed very realistic. The movie is about a man named Mack, who is carrying pain, grief, and guilt after the death of his daughter. He is mad at God and does not understand why bad things happen. I have been there too, where I have questioned God, felt like I had to be perfect, and wondered if I was doing enough and being enough. The thing that impacted me most, however, was how God was represented in this film. God wasn’t distant or judgmental. God was patient, loving, and willing to sit with Mack in his pain, rather than trying to give him answers right away. That really made me think. That really made me realize how God doesn’t want us to have it all figured out. God wants honesty, not perfection. That’s something I really needed to hear. I had been trying so hard to be the right kind of person, especially with regards to my faith, rather than just being real with God. The film also taught me a lot about pain and suffering. The Shack doesn’t shy away from pain or suffering. It doesn’t give a simplistic answer for everything. What it does do, however, is show how God can be present in spite of pain or suffering. That’s something that really comforted me. That’s something that really helped me realize how struggling doesn’t necessarily mean I’m failing with regards to my faith. Sometimes it just means I’m a human being. That’s something that really helped me find peace with myself, rather than being so hard on myself. Another important thing that I learned from this movie is forgiveness. Forgiveness, as depicted in this movie, is a process. Mack has to work through his anger and pain before he can forgive. This helped me realize that forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting what happened. Rather, it’s a choice we make. This lesson has helped me deal with conflicts in a better way, as well as with other people in my life. The Shack has impacted my life in a significant way. This movie has changed my life because it changed how I see God. This movie helped me realize that God meets me where I am, not where I think I should be. This movie also helped me realize that I do not need to hide my doubts and struggles. Rather, I can bring them to God. This movie may not have given me answers, but it gave me clarity, peace, and assurance that I am enough, despite being broken. This is why The Shack has impacted my life the most.

One issue I saw in my school community was the lack of open spaces for students to talk about faith and hear the gospel. Many students feel stressed, lost, or pressured by school and life, and I noticed there were very few places where they could find peace, truth, and encouragement rooted in Christianity. I had personally found real joy, peace, and fulfillment through my faith, and it bothered me knowing that others around me were searching for something similar but had nowhere to turn. What motivated me to tackle this problem was love for people. I genuinely care about others, and I wanted them to experience the same hope that changed my life. My faith has helped me through pressure, doubt, and uncertainty, and I felt called to share that with my peers. Instead of waiting for someone else to act, I decided to take initiative and create a space where students could grow spiritually together. I started a group called Jesus Club, where I serve as the leader. The club is faith based and faith led, centered on spreading the gospel in a welcoming and respectful way. From the beginning, my goal was to create a safe environment where students could ask questions, pray together, and talk honestly about life and faith. Through consistency and commitment, the group has grown steadily. We now have a regular group of students who attend, and I have witnessed powerful testimonies and personal growth within the club. Seeing students find peace, confidence, and purpose through faith has been incredibly meaningful. To expand my efforts, I plan to continue pouring into younger students and developing future leaders within the club. My goal is to mentor someone who can eventually take over leadership so the club can continue for years to come. I also hope to expand outreach through events and collaborations with other faith based groups. Jesus Club is not just an organization to me, it is a mission to love people and share hope in a lasting way.

I am a senior at Portage High School, and I have always tried to live with purpose in both my education and my service to others. I stay involved in school through academics, extracurricular activities, and community service. I am part of National Honor Society, where I complete service hours that allow me to give back to my school and community. Outside of school, I work at an assisted living facility, which has had a huge impact on who I am. Working with residents every day has taught me patience, compassion, and the importance of caring for people in simple but meaningful ways. My chosen career path is electrical engineering combined with ministry. I plan to attend a Christian college where I can grow both academically and spiritually. I am drawn to electrical engineering because I enjoy problem solving, innovation, and creating solutions that improve lives. At the same time, ministry is just as important to me. My faith is the foundation of who I am, and I feel called to use my life to serve others and share the truth and hope found in Christianity. I believe these two paths can work together, allowing me to make both practical and spiritual impact. One of the biggest adversities I have faced is the pressure surrounding my future. I will be the first child in my family to attend college, and with that comes a lot of expectations. As someone from a Hispanic background, there has been pressure to choose a safer or more traditional path, such as going straight into a trade. There has also been doubt about pursuing ministry, since it is often seen as risky or uncertain. On top of that, school and society have sometimes pushed me away from higher level challenges, making it seem like difficult paths were not meant for me. I overcame this adversity by leaning fully into my faith. Instead of allowing fear or outside pressure to control my decisions, I chose to trust God and remain confident in the path He has placed on my heart. My experiences through church, service, and leadership have strengthened my belief that I am capable and called to do more. Working hard in school and staying committed to my goals has helped me push past doubt and prove to myself that I belong in spaces that challenge me. I plan to make a positive impact on the world by using both my career and my ministry to serve others. Through electrical engineering, I hope to contribute to the development of technology that improves lives and creates opportunity. Through ministry, I want to help people feel seen, supported, and guided toward truth and hope. Whether through my work, my faith, or my daily interactions, my goal is to make meaningful change by serving others with integrity, compassion, and purpose.

I am a senior at Portage High School, where I have stayed involved both inside and outside of the classroom. School has always mattered to me, not just for grades, but for growth. I have challenged myself academically while also putting time into activities that let me serve others. I am a member of National Honor Society, where I complete service hours that directly give back to my school and community. Being involved has taught me responsibility, consistency, and the importance of showing up for people even when it is not required. Outside of school, I stay active in many extracurriculars and service based opportunities. One of the most meaningful parts of my life is my job at an assisted living facility. Working there has shaped who I am. I help care for residents on a daily basis, and through that I have learned patience, empathy, and how powerful simple kindness can be. Listening to people’s stories, helping them with everyday tasks, and just being present has made me realize how much I genuinely love people and serving them. Community service is not something I do just to check a box. It is something I value deeply. Whether through NHS, my church, or my job, I try to give my time to others in ways that matter. I believe leadership looks like service, and I strive to live that out consistently. Helping people, especially those who feel overlooked or forgotten, has become a core part of who I am. After high school, I plan to attend a Christian college where I will major in engineering while also pursuing some form of ministry. I want to use engineering as a practical skill to serve others, while ministry allows me to serve people spiritually and emotionally. My faith plays a huge role in every decision I make, and I want my future career to reflect that. If I were to start my own charity, it would focus on helping children who have experienced domestic violence. I have always just had a soft spot for children who grow up in unstable or unsafe homes. My heart breaks for kids who feel afraid, unheard, or unprotected. This charity would be faith led and rooted in Christianity, with the mission of offering safety, support, and hope. Volunteers would help provide mentorship, tutoring, safe spaces, and emotional support while also sharing the love of Christ. The goal would be healing, restoration, and reminding every child that they are seen, valued, and loved. Everything I do is driven by a desire to serve others and glorify God. I want my life, my education, and my future work to make a lasting impact rooted in faith and compassion.

Music has always been more than just sound to me. It is how I express what I cannot always put into words. As a vocalist on my church’s worship team, music has become one of the most important ways I live out my faith and give glory to God. Every time I step on stage, I am reminded that this is not about me, my voice, or how I sound. It is about using what God gave me to point people back to Him. Being part of the worship team has shaped me deeply as a person. When I sing during worship, it feels like a release. It is an outlet where I can be honest with God about my doubts, my fears, and my gratitude. There are moments when life feels overwhelming, when I feel pressure to be perfect or strong all the time. Worship gives me a place to lay all of that down. Singing becomes a prayer, not just something I perform, but something I mean. Leadership is a huge part of being on the worship team, even if it does not always look obvious. As a vocalist, I have learned that leadership starts with humility. I have to show up prepared, focused, and willing to serve, even when I am tired or stressed. I am not just singing for myself, but for the congregation and for my teammates who rely on me. Worship has taught me discipline, consistency, and the importance of being dependable. My faith journey has not been perfect or easy. There were times when I questioned myself, felt like I was not enough, or struggled to understand where God was leading me. Worship became one of the ways God met me in those moments. Singing truth, even when I did not fully feel it, helped strengthen my faith. Over time, I realized that worship was changing me from the inside out. It helped me grow more confident, more grounded, and more willing to live boldly for my faith outside of church as well. One of the most meaningful parts of being on the worship team is knowing that my voice can help create an environment where others feel connected to God. Even if someone walks into church feeling broken, distracted, or unsure, worship can open their heart. Being a small part of that is something I never take lightly. I do not sing to be seen. I sing so that God can be seen. Through worship, I have learned that my gifts have purpose when they are surrendered to God. Serving on the worship team has strengthened my faith, shaped my character, and taught me how to lead with authenticity and love. It is one of the clearest ways I live out my faith, and I plan to carry that heart of worship with me into everything I do in the future. Call