From an early age, I knew I wanted more than just survival—I wanted to build, to create, and to prove that nothing could limit me. Growing up in a low-income family, we tended to save more and put more energy into our academics in the hope that our academics would propel us into financial stability. In doing so, this motivates me to put my all into everything in order to succeed. My goal is to provide for my family with a financially stable job in the aerospace engineering industry. My background in coding encouraged my interest in engineering, which is where I found my calling in building things with my hands. After battling medical issues such as arthritis, I believe I have gained determination and resilience as skills, allowing me to persevere in anything I set my mind to. Not only that, but I believe the sky is the limit and that I’m not confined to a specific set of things. I like to be free and independent and have the ability to make my own decisions as a woman in engineering. I believe that all the skills I have mentioned will enable me to achieve my dream of entering the aerospace industry as a Black woman in STEM and showing others that it is possible for them, too. There are no limitations to who you are and what you can do. I realize that’s why I decided to pursue a dance minor alongside my mechanical engineering degree. One might ask why I decided to go this route—two vastly different things from very dissimilar departments in the university. I would like to explore my creativity, and I believe the minor gives me the chance to do that. I’m also inclined not to take the basic road that everyone else is accustomed to. I not only decided to take the minor to expand my horizons but also to grow my creativity. As a kid, I didn’t have many opportunities growing up where I could dance without the chance of being stigmatized, especially with my favorite dance style. I will continue to use this opportunity to broaden my horizons by diversifying my college experience, achieve my childhood dream of dancing, and grow my creativity through all dance forms. My values seem to be: do what makes you happy. I don’t want to live a life that I didn’t choose for myself, or just work to earn money. All these things I continue to involve myself in are things that I know I would want to continue my life doing.