Growing up, and even now, I’ve always been an introvert. I kept to myself, stayed in my comfort zone, and didn’t really go out of my way to talk to new people. For the most part, I stayed within my small circle and focused on my family. Over the years, I’ve had four really close friends who’ve stuck by me, and those relationships have meant the world to me. Each one has brought comfort, support, and consistency when the world felt overwhelming. I’ve shared happiness, anger, sadness, laughter, and even tears with them—and they’ve brought true joy into my life. I also had a two-year romantic relationship, and it was the most transformative relationship I’ve had to date. It taught me a lot about communication, trust, patience, and love. As someone who usually kept to themselves, that relationship showed me that opening up to others could be rewarding—and even life-changing. It taught me that it’s not only okay to let people in, but that doing so can actually make me happier. I learned how fun it can be to talk to new people, build connections, and share experiences. Most importantly, I discovered how powerful it is to truly care for someone—and to let yourself be cared for in return. To me, relationships—whether they’re friendships, romantic, family, or even with animals—are one of the most important parts of life. They give you something to hold on to, something real. It doesn’t matter how introverted you are or how much you enjoy being alone—having people (or animals) who care about you, and who you care about, makes a big difference. Life feels easier when you know someone’s in your circle. We’re just not meant to go through everything alone. As people, we need each other. We need to feel understood, supported, and loved. Having those connections helps us grow—not just emotionally, but as human beings. Whether it’s laughing with friends, talking things out with family, or just sitting in silence with someone who gets you—it all matters. It’s those relationships that make us who we are and remind us that we’re not alone, even when life gets hard. I want to use what I’ve learned to give back to people who might feel the same way I did growing up—quiet, unsure, maybe even overlooked. I know how much just one strong connection can change someone’s life, and I want to be that person for others. Whether it’s through mentoring, volunteering, or just being someone people can talk to, I want to help others feel seen, heard, and supported. I want to become a culinary teacher, and hopefully, I can make a connection like that with at least one student. If I can do that, I have fulfilled my purpose as a teacher. This scholarship would help me get the education I need to do that—and to do it well. It would give me the chance to become someone who not only works hard for their future but helps others build theirs, too.

My sophomore year of high school, I met this bright, bubbly girl in my 7th period English class. The more we talked, the closer we got, and eventually we started dating. We were together for two years, which was half of my high school experience. I still remember holding her at graduation, and even now, I think of her as my high school sweetheart. Before I met her, I didn’t really think much about mental health. It just wasn’t something that was talked about around me, especially since I have an old school Mexican family. But being with her and seeing her suffer because of her metal health and the way it affected her, me, and us as a couple really opened my eyes. I started to notice the struggles she faced, and how hard they were to understand for someone like me who hasn't gone through half the things he has. Even after we broke up, those experiences stuck with me. That relationship showed me how real mental health challenges are, and how important it is to pay attention to what people might be going through behind the scenes. Being that close to someone who suffered silently opened my eyes to how often mental health challenges go unnoticed, misunderstood, or even hidden. I saw firsthand how hard it can be to reach out for help, and how important it is to have someone who listens without judgment. Her struggles and me not being able fully understand or support her in the ways she may have needed left a lasting impact on me. I felt like I wasn't enough, during our relationship and even now. This relationship inspired me to pursue a path in the mental health field and in turn shaped my career interests because I want to be someone who can not only listen and be there the way people want me to be, but someone who is able to truly help. I want to be a that person that others seek for help when they are battling mental health challenges, especially those who feel unseen, alone, or the need to hide their struggles. I believe I can make a real difference in suicide prevention by combining my personal experiences with professional training. I’ve seen how easily someone’s pain can go unnoticed even by the people closest to them. My goal is to create space for open conversations, push for early intervention, and help make mental health care more accessible and hopefully even more affordable. I want people who are struggling to know they’re not alone, and that they never will be. That they are loved, and always will be. More than anything, I want to give others the support I wish I had known how to give my ex-girlfriend.

As a 17-year-old with a deep passion for cooking and a strong desire to make a positive impact, I believe I can make a meaningful environmental impact on both my local and global communities over the next five years through culinary innovation and education. My name is Carlos Rodriguez, and culinary arts have been a significant part of my dad’s side of the family for generations. My dad’s mother was a chef her entire life, and my dad has been a chef for many years, so I grew up in a household where food was more than just something to eat—it was a way to connect, share culture, and build relationships. I’ve always been interested in what my dad does in the kitchen, but it wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I began exploring cooking myself. That year, I had the opportunity to compete in a culinary competition in Los Angeles and cook for guests at my high school. It was there that I realized my passion for experimenting with food and learning about new ingredients. My goal is to earn a master’s degree in culinary arts and become a culinary teacher who can teach kids not only cooking skills but life skills that will stay with them forever. I want to show them how cooking can be a tool for positive change, both locally and globally, by helping them understand healthier, more sustainable food systems in their own lives. As a culinary teacher, I would like to show students that cooking isn’t just about making a meal—it’s about understanding the impact of what we eat on our health, our environment, and our communities. One way I plan to create a positive environmental impact is by teaching students how to use local, sustainable ingredients and reduce food waste. I want my students to see culinary arts as a way to contribute to a more sustainable food system, whether they pursue cooking as a career or not. I’ve come to understand that food is not just about what we eat, but about how we approach it. Through culinary innovation, I want to show people how to practice sustainability in food. Whether it’s by using local, seasonal ingredients or teaching people how to cook with what they already have, I believe we can reduce waste and make a big difference in how we use our resources. I work as a dining attendant at John’s Incredible Pizza, and every time I close, my coworkers and I end up throwing away hundreds of pounds of food. Every time I see that, it breaks my heart. I want to find a way to help reduce that waste. In addition to teaching sustainability in cooking, I also want to focus on helping communities that struggle with access to food. Many kids, like I was, are expected to know how to cook but aren’t taught the basics. I want to prevent that from happening by teaching children how to make healthy, affordable meals using ingredients they may already have at home. I believe that everyone, no matter their background, should have the ability to feed themselves and their families. Through my work, I want to ensure that food education is accessible, and that kids know how to feed themselves and others in sustainable, resourceful, and waste-conscious ways. By combining my passion for food and teaching, I hope to make a positive impact on my community through the lens of culinary innovation and education.

My name is Carlos Rodriguez, and I’m a 17-year-old who just graduated from Montclair High School. This fall, I’ll be attending Cal State Fullerton. I was born on July 7, 2007, so my birthday is an angel number, 07/07/07. I’m proud to come from a family with roots in Mexico. My mom was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and my dad is from Michoacán. I have four siblings: a 30-year-old sister, a 25-year-old brother, a 15-year-old brother, and a sister who would have been 26 but sadly passed away when she was just a month old. Currently, I work as a dining attendant at John’s Incredible Pizza. While I’m not a cook yet because you have to be 18 years old for that position, I'll be 18 soon! I want to pursue an education in culinary arts because cooking has been a big part of my dad’s side of the family for generations. My grandmother was a cook her whole life, and my dad has been a chef for many years. He’s also the main cook in our household, so it’s safe to say his family knows their way around food. Growing up, I saw how much my dad loved cooking, not just as a job but as something he truly enjoyed. It’s more than just a profession for him, it’s a way to connect with people. I’ve always been curious about what my dad did in the kitchen, but I didn’t really start exploring cooking until my junior year of high school. That same year, I competed in a culinary competition in Los Angeles. Even though my team didn’t win, my dish, fried tomatillos with mozzarella, tomato, and almond pesto, was well received by the judges. What I realized from that experience was that I really love cooking, especially trying new ingredients I’d never worked with before, like fried tomatillos. It made me excited to keep exploring food. Since then, I’ve had the chance to cook and serve meals at my high school, Montclair High School, which has only made me more passionate about culinary arts. My goal now is to become a culinary teacher. I’ve always enjoyed helping my peers with subjects like math and physics, and sometimes even in cooking. I’ve realized that teaching is something I enjoy, and I’d love to combine my family’s love of food with my passion for teaching. I know that many kids, like I once was, are expected to know how to do things without being shown how, and I want to help them. While I won’t be teaching traditional subjects like math or English, I’ll be teaching something just as important, how to cook with what you have. Cooking is a skill that everyone should learn. It’s not only about feeding yourself, but also about learning to be resourceful. I want to teach kids how to make meals with limited ingredients, how to explore different kinds of food, and most importantly feed kids who don't always have the opportunity to eat at home. My goal is to make a difference in my community by teaching kids life skills they can carry with them forever. My long-term goal is to earn a master’s degree in culinary arts and become a teacher. I want to help students grow, not just as cooks but as individuals, and inspire them to learn and explore food in their own way. Even if they don't pursue an education in culinary arts or anything related to cooking, I want to make an impact and prevent kids from being in the same shoes I was.

My name is Carlos Rodriguez, and I’m a 17-year-old who just graduated from Montclair High School. This fall, I’ll be attending Cal State Fullerton. I was born on July 7, 2007, so my birthday is an angel number, 07/07/07. I’m proud to come from a family with roots in Mexico. My mom was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and my dad is from Michoacán. I have four siblings: a 30-year-old sister, a 25-year-old brother, a 15-year-old brother, and a sister who would have been 26 but sadly passed away when she was just a month old. Currently, I work as a dining attendant at John’s Incredible Pizza. While I’m not a cook yet because you have to be 18 years old for that position, I'll be 18 soon! I want to pursue an education in culinary arts because cooking has been a big part of my dad’s side of the family for generations. My grandmother was a cook her whole life, and my dad has been a chef for many years. He’s also the main cook in our household, so it’s safe to say his family knows their way around food. Growing up, I saw how much my dad loved cooking, not just as a job but as something he truly enjoyed. It’s more than just a profession for him, it’s a way to connect with people. I’ve always been curious about what my dad did in the kitchen, but I didn’t really start exploring cooking until my junior year of high school. That same year, I competed in a culinary competition in Los Angeles. Even though my team didn’t win, my dish, fried tomatillos with mozzarella, tomato, and almond pesto, was well received by the judges. What I realized from that experience was that I really love cooking, especially trying new ingredients I’d never worked with before, like fried tomatillos. It made me excited to keep exploring food. Since then, I’ve had the chance to cook and serve meals at my high school, Montclair High School, which has only made me more passionate about culinary arts. My goal now is to become a culinary teacher. I’ve always enjoyed helping my peers with subjects like math and physics, and sometimes even in cooking. I’ve realized that teaching is something I enjoy, and I’d love to combine my family’s love of food with my passion for teaching. I know that many kids, like I once was, are expected to know how to do things without being shown how, and I want to help them. While I won’t be teaching traditional subjects like math or English, I’ll be teaching something just as important, how to cook with what you have. Cooking is a skill that everyone should learn. It’s not only about feeding yourself, but also about learning to be resourceful. I want to teach kids how to make meals with limited ingredients, how to explore different kinds of food, and most importantly feed kids who don't always have the opportunity to eat at home. My goal is to make a difference in my community by teaching kids life skills they can carry with them forever. My long-term goal is to earn a master’s degree in culinary arts and become a teacher. I want to help students grow, not just as cooks but as individuals, and inspire them to learn and explore food in their own way. Even if they don't pursue an education in culinary arts or anything relate to cooking, I want to make an impact and prevent kids being in the same shoes I was.

I want to pursue an education in culinary arts because cooking has been a big part of my dad’s side of the family for generations. My grandmother was a cook her whole life, and my dad has been a chef for many years. He’s also the main cook in our household, so it’s safe to say his family knows their way around food. Growing up, I saw how much my dad loved cooking, not just as a job but as something he truly enjoyed. It’s more than just a profession for him, it’s a way to connect with people. People would come to our little apartment no matter how far just to eat a meal from my dad, which really inspired me. I’ve always been curious about what my dad did in the kitchen, but I didn’t really start exploring cooking until my junior year of high school. That same year, I competed in a culinary competition in Los Angeles. Even though my team didn’t win, my dish, which was fried tomatillos with mozzarella, tomato, and almond pesto, was well received by the judges. I also got some helpful feedback that I could use to improve. What I realized from that experience was that I really love cooking, especially trying new ingredients I’d never worked with before, like fried tomatillos. It made me excited to keep exploring food. Since then, I’ve had the chance to cook and serve meals at my high school, Montclair High School, which has only made me more passionate about culinary arts. My goal now is to become a culinary teacher. I’ve always enjoyed helping my peers with subjects like math and physics, and sometimes even in cooking. I’ve realized that teaching is something I enjoy, and I’d love to combine my family’s love of food with my passion for teaching. I know that many kids, like I once was, are expected to know how to do things without being shown how, and I want to help them. While I won’t be teaching traditional subjects like math or English, I’ll be teaching something just as important, how to cook with what you have. Cooking is a skill that everyone should learn. It’s not only about feeding yourself, but also about learning to be resourceful. I want to teach kids how to make meals with limited ingredients, how to explore different kinds of food, and most importantly feed kids who don't always have the opportunity to eat at home. My goal is to make a difference in my community by teaching kids life skills they can carry with them forever. My long-term goal is to earn a master’s degree in culinary arts and become a teacher. I want to help students grow, not just as cooks but as individuals, and inspire them to learn and explore food in their own way. Even if they don't pursue an education in culinary arts or anything relate to cooking, I want to make an impact and prevent kids being in the same shoes I was.

Growing up, I was never really taught how to do things. I was thrown into the deep end of the pool and expected to already know how to swim. I come from a family of three sons and one daughter. I have two older siblings and one younger sibling who always came to me when he needed help with something or when he experienced something new. I found myself enjoying teaching him. In 2021, as we were coming out of quarantine, our parents and older siblings went to work for most of the day, which meant I was in charge of taking care of my younger brother and myself. I was never really taught how to cook, so I turned to YouTube, websites, and TikTok to learn how to make food for my brother and me. This experience taught me that I really enjoyed cooking, and at the same time, I liked teaching and explaining things to my little brother. Ever since then, I have wanted to become a culinary teacher. The passion for culinary arts runs in my family, but the desire to become a teacher is something new for us. Culinary arts may be a bit of an obscure field, but it has been a passion in my dad's side of the family for generations. My dad used to be a chef, and he is the primary cook in our household, so I’ve been exposed to a variety of cuisines. This exposure sparked my interest in culinary arts from a young age. However, I didn’t act on this interest until my junior year of high school, when I participated in a culinary competition and served guests at Montclair High School. I’ve always enjoyed teaching or helping people whether it’s my little brother, friends, or even classmates with subjects like math, physics, or video games. So, why not combine my family’s generational passion for cooking with my own passion for teaching and helping others, and become a culinary teacher? Many kids have been, are, or will be in the same situation I was in—just expected to know how to do things without being taught. I want to help them. Although I won't be teaching traditional subjects like math or English, I’ll be teaching something arguably more valuable: how to cook with what they have. I want to impact my community by giving them skills they can use throughout their lives, and perhaps even inspire some to pursue it further. I want to teach kids how to feed themselves with the resources available to them, introduce them to global cuisines, and, most importantly, provide food for kids who may not always have the opportunity to eat at home. My goal is to earn a master’s in culinary arts and become a teacher so I can help kids in meaningful ways.