My dream in life is to become a woman of STEM. I love defying the odds and challenging myself to become something amazing. I am currently a senior in high school and was recently admitted into the J.B. Speed school of engineering where I will be able to earn my Master's degree in just four years. Coming from a very low income household, I haven't had a lot of opportunity to advance as far as other people in my playing field. It feels like I've missed out on a lot due to the lack of funds that run in my family. I plan on working my full time job, more than 40 hours a week, while I attend college full time. Any type of assistance I can get that would help me advance in my studies and in life would mean the world to me.

I love the way that I smile, perfectly crooked and full of flashing gums. I love the way that my cheeks raise and make my eyes squint, and how my single dimple plays peek-a-book with the lines of lips. I love the way it brings about an eruption of laughter from everyone in the room. I love the way it manages to break through at every passing moment; when I'm alone in the car, and my music is blasting louder than any other pair of ears could possibly endure. When I'm nervous because for a brief moment the room gets quiet and all of the attention is on me. When it rubs off on somebody when I embrace them in a hug, assuring them that I am here to support them. When I cant wipe it off of my face because I am absolutely beaming. I especially love my smile when my eyes swell with tears and I'm face to face with myself in the mirror. When all of the regret, doubt, anger, and anxiety comes rushing in and nothing feels right. When I'm displaced and lost, in doubt of myself and of my worth. When words don't have the capacity to explain what's running through my head. I catch a glimpse of that lifeless smile, trying its hardest to fight through to me. That smile of mine, that has seen me at my ugliest. That has dumbfounded me time and time again, that has stuck by me in all of my turmoil. That smile, inching its way in, reminding me of who I am. That reminds me I am able. My smile, my favorite thing. I don't think I will ever love anything else just as much as I do my smile.