Growing up, I was behind in school; From moving to a different state in the middle of second grade, I had a hard time catching up to everyone around me. I was bullied, and I had to be taken out of class to work on my spelling and general skills in school. Now as a senior in high school, in all honors and UCONN classes, I worked hard to be where I am. I worked hard to be top 25 in my class, and I worked hard to be in 5 honors societies. Moving forward, I have to work even harder to strive and succeed in the world of engineering. My biggest influence for such a hard, daunting task: my father. Growing up, my father was good at his job, he always has been. Apart from this though, whether it be artistically or academically, my father and I had very alike qualities. He always kept me on my toes and helped me find my ways. He brought a bond that I truly thank him for, as he brought me to want to strive for the stars. While I was behind, he pushed me to new limits. He sparked my interest for engineer, because as an engineer himself, he worked on some projects at home, all of which I was highly intrigued about. He was open and honest about the profession, and I took his words to heart when he said that I was smart. He told me that I could be whatever I wanted to be, no matter what, and he would always support me. I aspire to be great, but further than that, I aspire to make my father proud. Though I know he will support me no matter what, I strive to truly wow him in my doings and make him proud of my accomplishments further than in high school or on college. While I am going my own route in engineering, I want to show him that I can fill his shoes while still being myself. The unconditional love and support from my father concerning what I wanted for myself shaped me into the hardworking, diligent person I am today. Reaching for the stars, I always know that I am not alone and will always be backed up by my parents, especially my father in my doings. I truly strive to reach his levels of dedication to his work. From his humor to his smarts, he has shaped me into the person I am today and has truly made me driven and hopeful for my future. With my father behind me, I truly hope to represent not only him well, but also represent women in the STEM world.