I was introduced to soccer by my father, and I can’t thank him enough because it’s transformed my once monotonous life. The first time I saw the beautiful game, I was immediately captivated. The passion I witnessed on that screen was infectious. The beauty was indescribable. All I’m going to say is, it puts your favorite actress to shame. I suffer from sickle cell disease, though. With Sickle Cell, there’ll always be things that you are told will be impossible for you to achieve. For instance, I’ve always struggled athletically, not because I don’t try, but it’s because my body won’t let me. This disease has put me in a cage all of my life. I can never practice as long as the others, run as long as the others, or play as hard as the others. Within seconds of sprinting, I’ll be gasping for air, but guess what? That didn’t stop me from being one of the fastest kids in the school. I will never let Sickle Cell diminish my potential. Sickle cell can’t stop me from loving the game, and it still doesn’t stop me from dreaming that one day I’ll overcome this disease. I still practice every day myself for that 0.00001% chance that I do the impossible because I believe nothing is truly impossible. We thought making it to the moon was impossible a couple of decades ago; now we have a whole station just chilling up there. Seeing the impossible become possible is also why I chose to pursue technology, where the only true limit is your imagination. My love for this sport inspires me to achieve the unachievable, not only when it comes to the sport, but in everything I do in life. I’ve garnered over 100k views as a content creator, accomplished great things academically, like earning an Azure DP-900 certification and graduating with a 4.0, and I’ve even hosted a school soccer tournament. Yes, the kid with Sickle Cell held an athletics tournament and even scored in the final. I proved that day, and I hope to continue to prove to others with Sickle Cell that the only impossible thing is something being impossible. My disability is the reason I refuse to give up and strive for greatness. Don’t get it twisted, though I’m not great because of it, I’m great despite it. One thing sickle cell definitely won’t stop me from is changing the world. When I first discovered computers, I realized I could have my own digital canvas, but unlike canvases in real life or Sickle Cell, there are no borders to confine me. Computers give you the power to be the master of a digital world, and that world can have massive effects on the real world. I find myself drawn to the computing discipline because it’s the antithesis of impossibility. I believe in the power of technology to do the impossible, so I want to utilize that power. I want to create software that alerts authorities of potential crimes before they happen, create devices to facilitate the movement of oxygen in Sickle Cell patients, or even create the next Candy Crush. Sickle Cell will not be the shackles that hold me back. I’ve seen so many miracles on a football pitch, so why can’t I create miracles in my own life?

I was introduced to soccer by my father, and I can’t thank him enough because it’s transformed my once monotonous life. The first time I saw the beautiful game, I was immediately captivated. The passion I witnessed on that screen was infectious. The beauty was indescribable. All I’m going to say is, it puts your favorite actress to shame. I suffer from sickle cell disease, though. This disease has put me in a cage all of my life. I can never practice as long as the others, run as long as the others, or play as hard as the others. Every time I watch the players on the big screen, not only do I feel excited, but there is a deep-seated jealousy bubbling. I want to be the one on the big stage, but it’ll likely never be possible. Sickle cell can’t stop me from loving the game, and it still doesn’t stop me from dreaming that one day I’ll overcome this disease. I still practice every day myself for that 0.00001% chance that I do the impossible because I believe nothing is truly impossible. We thought making it to the moon was impossible a couple of decades ago; now we have a whole station just chilling up there. Seeing the impossible become possible is also why I chose to pursue technology, where the only true limit is your imagination. My love for this sport inspires me to achieve the unachievable, not only when it comes to the sport, but in everything I do in life. I’ve hosted school soccer tournaments, garnered over 100k views as a content creator, and accomplished great things academically, like earning an Azure DP-900 certification and graduating with a 4.0. My disability is the reason I refuse to give up and strive for greatness. Don’t get it twisted, though I’m not great because of it, I’m great despite it. Sickle cell won’t stop me from changing the world either. As I said earlier, I believe in the power of technology to do the impossible, so I want to utilize that power. I want to create software that alerts authorities of potential crimes before they happen, create devices to facilitate the movement of oxygen in Sickle Cell patients, or even create the next Candy Crush. The miracles I create will be the reason someone smiles. They’ll smile due to relief, they’ll smile due to comfort, they’ll smile because what I create will make their lives better than they once were. I’ve seen so many miracles on a football pitch, so why can’t I create miracles in my own life? I won’t just be the reason they smile, I’ll also be the reason people are inspired. I want my life story to encourage other kids whose had the odds stacked against them that nothing can stop them from achieving greatness. Whenever someone wants to give up, they’ll remember I never gave up. They’ll remember that the only impossible thing is something being impossible.

From an early age, I’ve been glued to screens. Computers, consoles, phones, if it had a screen, I used it. I wasn’t captivated purely by the visual entertainment they provide, but that certainly did play a factor.I was amazed by the endless capabilities of these devices. More specifically, I was astonished by what you could create using technology. Just a taste of the madness was no longer enough for me, so I wanted to throw my hat into the ring. I want to see what I can do with technology in not only video games but also in other areas. No restrictions, that’s what I love about it. The Computing discipline combines my passion for technology with my boundless creativity. Whether it be sketching, content creation, or even story building in my head, I’ve always had a passion to create. When I first discovered computers, I realized I could create my own digital canvas, but unlike canvases in real life, there are no borders to confine me. Computers give you the power to be the master of your own digital world, and your world can have massive effects on the real world. You could create software to more efficiently check in hospital patients, create a device to swiftly alert authorities of potential crimes before they happen, or even just make the next Candy Crush. If you can think it, odds are you can develop it using technology. Through computers, I could make the impossible possible and change the world. You may laugh at such lofty joke, but I wouldn't say I’m doing this purely for pride. I suffer from sickle cell disease. This disease has put me in a cage my entire life. With Sickle Cell, there’ll always be things that you are told will be impossible for you to achieve. For instance, I’ve always struggled athletically, not because I don’t try, but it’s because my body won’t let me. Within seconds of sprinting, I’ll be gasping for air, but that didn’t stop me from being one of the fastest. I'll prove that even when the chips are down you can still change the world. I’ll be the reason people are inspired. I want my life story to encourage other kids whose had the odds stacked against them that nothing can stop them from achieving greatness. Whenever someone wants to give up, they’ll remember I never gave up. They’ll remember that the only impossible thing is something being impossible. Of course, you can’t go make it in life with just lofty goals. I plan to use my computer engineering degree to find a job as a Software Engineer. I know it may sound stupid, getting a computer engineering degree to be a software engineer, but it makes sense. I’ve always been more fond of the software side of computing because of the creativity it allows me to showcase. The computer is my canvas, but without a deep understanding of computer science, I won’t be able to unlock the full potential of the canvas. If I don’t understand the ins and outs of how a computer works I will stay stagnant in the software area. I plan to improve my coding skills on my own time. I’d be like Batman, living a double life. By day, I’m a Software Engineer making a stable income, and then off work, I aim for those lofty goals. I’ll be working till the dead of night trying to possibly create life-saving equipment, world-altering tools, or like I said earlier the next Candy Crush to prove the impossible is possible.

You always hear it, “videogames rot your brains, but even if it’s true, I’m an outlier because videogames sparked my desire to learn. They were my introduction to the endless possibilities of technology. The vastness in genres and varieties means odds are there will be a game that suits your taste, and if there isn’t, you can make it yourself. When I saw there was a video game class at Ben Barber, taking it was a no-brainer. No restrictions, that’s how Mr.Chandlee, my game design teacher, taught. The Ben Barber class gave me my first experience actually utilizing the infinite capabilities of computers, and my desire to explore the computing discipline was cemented. I was no longer playing the games I loved, but I got the opportunity to throw my hat into the ring and create my own. Video game design only gave me a taste of the madness, but that alone was no longer enough for me. I had to see how far I could push the limits of “endless possibilities”; I had to see what I could do with technology in not only video games but also in other areas. People took classes to boost their GPA, but I took a class that gave me a reason to learn. Video design taught me that technology could quite literally grant the power to change the world. I needed to know every component and method to utilize technology to its fullest, so I began going deeper down the Ben Barber computing rabbit hole. Each year, I’d take different Ben Barber classes focused on the computing discipline to develop my computing tool belt. Computer Science was the first leap that gave me the base knowledge of not just the software aspect of computers, but also the hardware that was involved. In the year following, I would take AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science A, which showed me the capabilities of code outside the field of just video games. I spent hundreds of hours in Dr.Popkin’s classes practicing and building up coding skills. Her class didn’t just teach me the technical aspects of coding, though; I learned the personal struggles that come with coding. To be more frank, I lived them, I remember days I’d stay up for hours trying to figure out what small bug is causing my entire code to fail to run. There were sleepless nights in which I wanted to give up, but I never did, and I believe that has prepared me for those constant setbacks anyone in the computing discipline faces. By that point, I believed I had gained so much knowledge over the years, and the Information Technology Practicum allowed me to put my money where my mouth was. Not only did the class offer me the opportunity of an Azure DP-900 Certification, which further set me up for the future, but the class also dropped me into the actual computing field, more specifically, as an MISD Technology Intern. Sure, there were monotonous days where I just quality checked Chromebooks, but there were days when I took apart computers. I saw the best and the not-so-glamorous parts that come with working in the field. The class gave me the full preview of what the computing world is actually like, and my success there proved that all my previous classes had paid off. Ben Barber put me on a path that has allowed me to discover my love of technology and set me up for a future in that discipline.

I was introduced to soccer by my father, and I can’t thank him enough because it’s transformed my once monotonous life. The first time I saw the beautiful game, I was immediately captivated. The passion I witnessed on that screen was infectious. The beauty was indescribable. All I’m going to say is, it puts your favorite actress to shame. I suffer from sickle cell disease, though. Sickle Cell is most commonly found in African Americans. This disease has put me in a cage all of my life. I can never practice as long as the others, run as long as the others, or play as hard as the others. Every time I watch the players on the big screen, not only do I feel excited, but there is a deep-seated jealousy bubbling. I want to be the one on the big stage, but it’ll likely never be possible. Sickle cell can’t stop me from loving the game, and it still doesn’t stop me from dreaming that one day I’ll overcome this disease. I still practice every day myself for that 0.00001% chance that I do the impossible because I believe nothing is truly impossible. We thought making it to the moon was impossible a couple of decades ago; now we have a whole station just chilling up there. Seeing the impossible become possible is also why I chose to pursue technology, where the only true limit is your imagination. My love for this sport inspires me to achieve the unachievable, not only when it comes to the sport, but in everything I do in life. I’ve hosted school soccer tournaments, garnered over 100k views as a content creator, and accomplished great things academically, like earning an Azure DP-900 certification and graduating with a 4.0. My disability is the reason I refuse to give up and strive for greatness. Don’t get it twisted, though I’m not great because of it, I’m great despite it. Sickle cell won’t stop me from changing the world either. As I said earlier, I believe in the power of technology to do the impossible, so I want to utilize that power. I want to create software that alerts authorities of potential crimes before they happen, create devices to facilitate the movement of oxygen in Sickle Cell patients, or even create the next Candy Crush. The miracles I create will be the reason someone smiles. They’ll smile due to relief, they’ll smile due to comfort, they’ll smile because what I create will make their lives better than they once were. I’ve seen so many miracles on a football pitch, so why can’t I create miracles in my own life? I won’t just be the reason they smile, I’ll also be the reason people are inspired. I want my life story to encourage other kids whose had the odds stacked against them that nothing can stop them from achieving greatness. Whenever someone wants to give up, they’ll remember I never gave up. They’ll remember that the only impossible thing is something being impossible.