The technologies of the future are accelerating towards us at an unprecedented pace. Year by year, advancements in transportation, genetics, and even artificial intelligence continue to become increasingly efficient. While all of this new technology looks like a great thing for humanity on the surface level, they also risk leaving disadvantaged communities even further behind as the world becomes more technologically complex. Now more than ever, the future remains uncertain, which is why I aspire to become a mechanical engineer. I seek to understand and build upon these systems so I can help my community navigate one of the most technologically transformative periods in human history. ​ Ever since a young age, I've always had fun being creative and building things. Whether that be the construction of a cool LEGO house or even epic cardboard projectiles, translating my own innovation to physical contraptions gave me so much joy. I saw engineering as the ultimate dream job for me, as I dreamed of being just like the cool guys working in top-secret labs developing futuristic, almost alien technology. I had heard a little bit about how terribly challenging it was to go through university-level engineering, and some stories of students pushed to their absolute breaking point, but I simply couldn't be deterred. In my eyes, the grind was worth it if it resulted in me being able to fulfill my dream. Now that I have made it to university, I am aware of the extreme lack of diversity in my field. At Texas A&M, only about 3-4% of my engineering class is African American, and these low numbers seem to stem from the state of my community. ​ In high school, I served for a non-profit called Stars United Global Outreach (SUGO), an organization dedicated to providing equitable education for at-risk youth, in which the majority were African American. As the president of the SUGO Youth Ambassador Program, I took on the responsibility of organizing workshops and classes designed to empower young people. These workshops focus on providing them with essential soft and hard skills that will help them navigate the complex world ahead. From improving public speaking to developing leadership abilities, SUGO’s programs equipped the next generation with the tools they need to succeed. I would like to use my degree and influence to continue investing in the lives of these youth through engineering-related workshops and eventually monetary scholarship funding. I’m proud to be part of this mission, knowing that we are investing in future leaders who will face critical global challenges like climate change, technological advancement, and economic instability. ​ One of my favorite quotes is "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." Even if you lack talent or a strong background, anyone can still succeed if they have the drive and tenacity to go out there and grab what they want. Many of the students that I met through SUGO were simply lacking the confidence and the drive to go and realize their dreams. I want my impact in the STEM field to be more than just technological advancements. I want young people in my community to see someone who looks like them succeeding in STEM and realize that their own dreams are possible too.