I have a very clear memory of when I fell in love with Chemistry. When I was eight years old, I watched an episode of the "Big Bang Theory" where Sheldon, the main character, discussed molecular modeling. I found the topic fascinating. I asked my parents to teach me all they knew about the subject. That took all of two minutes! Then I convinced them to buy me an organic chemistry model kit. I'm not sure if it was the primary colors on the balls or the funny shapes it made, but from that point on, I've been mesmerized by anything Chemistry related. I'm a unique individual with many interests. When you see me face-to-face, it's easy to profile me as a jock. I'm six feet six inches tall and captain of Stanford's Club Basketball team. Before that, I was my high school's varsity basketball team captain. I also play competitive volleyball. However, this is who I really am: I take my education very seriously. So much so that in high school I commuted one hour one-way daily to attend the best Fresno, Ca area STEM high school instead of attending the local high school. I took college-level courses at Fresno State University starting in the 10th grade. But there's more to me. I'm also a classical trombonist, participating in Symphonic and Wind Orchestras. I love classical music as it's my creative outlet. Finally, I'm also a Hispanic young man fighting all the stereotypes that come with my skin color. I'm afraid to speak in my mother tongue with my family in public. I'm very conscientious that my skin color and the size of my physique are enough to make some people uncomfortable around me. Folks judge me before they get to know me. That's my reality. I can't change it; it won't stop me. My role models, my parents, are both hard-working engineers, who English is their second language. But the language barrier did not stop them from coming to this country and starting from scratch in order to provide me with better opportunities. From a young age, they exposed me to science in many fun ways which made me love it. They also ensured I was not afraid of math. Finally, they set high expectations for me, instilling the need for hard work, curiosity, discipline, and critical thinking. In a way, my parents created an island of positivity and educational focus that protected me from the tough neighborhood I grew up in. I would have never been a Stanford Engineering student today had it not been for the self-confidence they instilled in me and the encouragement to go for the best. As Norman Vincent Peale said: "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars". So while others might look down on my ethnic background, I know it's been the key to my success. My family's values drive my discipline and unstoppable hard work. My competitive mindset fuels me to give it my all in anything I engage in. Thanks to that I have no doubt in my ability to become a successful engineer that will contribute to the betterment of society.

I'm a very tall (6'5"), lanky Latino boy from California's agricultural heartland, the San Joaquin Central Valley. If you consider the statistics of the area I live in you would have stereotyped me as a gang-affiliated, drug-abusing/drug-dealing, high school dropout kid destined to die before reaching 40 years old. I'm aware that before knowing me, some people would make wrong assumptions about me. I think that for that reason I'm exactly the opposite of the typical Central Valley stereotype. My role models, my parents, are both hard-working engineers, who English is their second language but did not let that stop them from coming to this country to provide me with better opportunities. From a young age, they exposed me to science in many fun ways which made me love it. They also ensured I was not afraid of math. Finally, they set high expectations for me instilling the need for hard work, curiosity, discipline, and critical thinking. My successes are all due to the clear path forward that they laid out for me. My self-confidence in eventually achieving my career goals comes from their confidence in my capabilities and their full support to enable it to happen. I try to be a well-rounded individual. While my passion and successes are most clearly displayed in Science Olympiad competitions, my 4.0 GPA and the basketball court, I’m just as proud of my community service work tutoring developmentally challenged middle schoolers in Fresno. I see community service as food for the soul. Another area that I’m very proud of having made a difference is in my high school leader’s opinion of sports. I attend a top-ranked high school that focuses on STEM + Music curriculum. School officials openly would state that “if you love sports, this is NOT the high school for you”. I love sports and was adamant in attending University High School since it offered the best program in the area for future engineers. During my freshman year, barely any teachers came to our games. Through my actions and open advocacy for more support for the high school sports program, I believe I changed many of their perceptions about sports. As the senior year basketball season unfolded, they saw really smart kids keep up with their academic, and music requirements while also enjoying sports. With every win, we saw more support. At the league championship, and with an undefeated season hanging in the balance, we saw almost the entire school staff cheering us on as we won the first-ever school championship. So while I cannot control stereotypes, I know my family's ethnic background and upbringing had a great influence on my personal development. Thanks to it I have no doubt in my ability to become a successful engineer that will contribute to the betterment of society. See below a link to a school newspaper article on how me and my team successfully combine scholastics & basketball achievements: https://www.instagram.com/p/CW1eDuLvngJ/

I’m a very tall (6’5’”), lanky latino boy from California’s agricultural heartland, the San Joaquin Central California Valley. If you consider the statistics of the area I live, you would have stereotyped me as a gang-affiliated, drug-abusing/drug-dealing, high school dropout kid destined to die before reaching 40 years old. I’m aware that before knowing me, some people would make wrong assumptions about me. For that reason, I’m exactly the opposite. My role models, my parents, are both hard-working engineers, whose English is their second language but did not let that stop them from coming to this country to provide me with better opportunities. From a young age, they exposed me to science in many fun ways which made me love it. They also ensured I was not afraid of math. Finally, they set high expectations for me instilling the need for hard work, curiosity, discipline, and critical thinking. My successes are all due to the clear path for success that they laid out for me. My self-confidence in eventually achieving my career goals comes from their confidence in my capabilities and their full support to enable it to happen. However, the concept of equal opportunity or lack thereof, casts a dark cloud over my self-confidence. For instance, I was given early admission to Stanford University's College of Engineering, but am I good enough for it? And even if I were, can I even afford it? If I chose to attend Fresno State University, a very good, very affordable local institution, will I be respected and given the same opportunities as if I had attended Stanford? After all, it's still me. Of course, the answer is no. However, after the George Floyd incident in 2020, many community and business leaders have realized the privilege they were granted by virtue of their skin color and affluence. Many of them have committed to increasing opportunities for people like me. I'm excited and looking forward to seeing those commitments become a reality for me and other central valley Latino kids. So while I cannot control stereotypes, I know my family’s ethnic background and upbringing had a great influence in my personal development. Thanks to it I have no doubt in my ability to become a successful engineer that will contribute to the betterment of society.