I recently learned a powerful lesson: how to transform the various challenges once meant to bind us into the foundation upon which we flourish. From a young age, I was captivated by the inner workings of machines and the logic behind how computers and robots functioned. Going above and beyond with any little project that I had my hands on was never a question someone on my team had to ask. Whether I would build the robot from scratch, teach myself programming languages or stay after class to test extra designs, I loved every fleeting second. There was an assessment for my robotics class called "Find the Endpoint" where a team had to design a robot that could navigate a course using various sensors. Everything was going well until the last day–the distance sensor on our robot wouldn’t pick up the first obstacle when presenting. No amount of debugging could fix it before the deadline approached. I felt like all of our hard work meant nothing and I began to question if I belong in engineering. Mr. Hudacek told me a harsh truth: “Not everything we build will succeed. It’s our duty as engineers to find the solutions that can solve our problems–no matter how imperfect”. These words gave me a realization: the reason my designs felt lacking and the reason I doubted myself was because I focused my energy on achieving perfection rather than growing from imperfections. I realized that setbacks weren't walls to stop progress, but steps for us to climb. From that day forward, I re-ignited the flame that drew me to engineering. This heartfelt passion has evolved into a commitment to creating innovative machines, and software that can solve real-world problems. Today, I’m working with New York Junior Tennis League (NYJTL) to program an app that will aid coaches in lesson-planning. Despite my motivations and academic excellence, the reality of my financial situation is constricting me. My family relies solely on my mother’s income, and although she works tirelessly, her income can’t cover the high cost of attendance, such as housing, of most engineering-based institutions. This scholarship would allow me to focus on pursuing my passion for engineering and my commitment to changing the way we approach problem-solving without financial burdens. Instead of being paralyzed by an unspoken obligation to get everything exactly correct, I’ve learned to think critically and move my team forward with confidence.