Best. Anime. Show. Ever. Have you ever heard of the anime show called RWBY? It is a show set in a fantasy world full of conflict where people go to school to battle monsters. Each character has flashy weapons and unique abilities. A storyline filled with so many characters, each coming from different backgrounds, never fails to captivate me. What makes it so interesting is its storytelling. Early on the graphics were not that good but the actions of the characters and their dialogue is what really made you feel for them. Something that makes RWBY different from other anime is its fairy tale and historical influence; throughout the show you are introduced to many characters who resemble fairy tales. For example the main character Ruby wears a red hood and when introduced, was being hunted by wolf-like monsters, a direct correlation to the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. Another example of these allusions is the two main sides in the greater conflict, the good side and the bad side. The good side is led by a man named Ozpin which is a shortened and abbreviated version of the Wizard of Oz’s real name. Ozpin’s close followers each protect different schools and represent a different Wizard of Oz character. The dark side is led by a woman named Salem whose character alludes to the Wicked Witch of the West, the main antagonist in the Wizard of Oz. RWBY differs from other shows in its art style and its choreography; every fight scene captures each character's abilities so well and is accompanied by an amazing soundtrack. Most characters even have their own unique song! The unique, multiple characters, the captivating storytelling and the music are the reasons why RWBY is the most unique anime show.

“Some people want it to happen. Some wish it would happen. Others make it happen.” —-------- Michael Jordan The above quote is displayed on a poster in my bedroom. I was working on my homework when I glanced at the words on the poster. At the same time I was pressing a bag of ice for my shin splints; an injury I developed from running on the track team. This image is a perfect example of what it means to be a student athlete. I have been running on the cross country and track teams since the tenth grade. Throughout high school I carried a heavy academic load to include Advance Placement (AP) and Honors classes. Being a student athlete has often been tough, in terms of maintaining a good balance between the two worlds but it has helped me develop a number of skills. I have learned to be resilient through competing. Each school can enter only a limited number of athletes for each event. Selection is often based on your times, with the faster runners being chosen. I consider myself a strong runner but there were others on the team who often ran faster than me. I was initially very upset when the coach did not select me to run in the Greater Middlesex Conference tournament. I was discouraged for a few weeks but I recovered from those negative feelings. My determination to be the best runner I could be had increased. Running track has also helped me to work on a team and see myself as a contributor to a group. Michael Jordan once said, “There is no ‘I’ in team but there is in win.” I interpret this to mean that winning requires the team to work together. The confidence and perseverance I gained by being on the track team allowed me to be selected as a leader on many academic group projects where I was encouraging and supportive to others. Along with the benefits, there had been challenges as well. The most challenging part of being a student athlete would be time management. I made a commitment to the track team to show up to practice almost everyday, and to travel after school and sometimes on the weekends to compete in tournaments. I committed to all this and I have to meet the academic deadlines of tests and homework. My student-athlete schedule meant sometimes foregoing family gatherings to attend a tournament. In addition, the practice schedule meant that I returned home in the evening, which left me a small window of time to eat, shower, do homework, and have some relaxation time before bedtime. Although sometimes my schedule was hectic, it did not diminish my passion for the sport. I am passionate about running track because it has helped my physical, emotional, and mental health. Running has improved the way that I feel about myself. The better I feel, the better I am able to perform academically. I enjoy the physicality of the sport. Running requires that I participate in conditioning during the offseason (summer). It wasn’t until I started conditioning that I experienced a new level of energy while gaining muscle strength. Running has not only improved my health and overall wellness but I have enjoyed the competition and camaraderie. Essentially, being a student athlete running track has been both beneficial and challenging. I started the essay with a quote from Michael Jordan. Knowing that I have done my best to make it happen by balancing my academics with my sport participation with a sport that I enjoy, has been well worth it.

Shifting the Gear Towards Success Everyone has something to contribute to the world. It’s just a matter of being given that opportunity to do so. —--- Grace Hightower “Come here son! Let me show you how to check the oil and some of the fluids in the car.” I walked into the garage to see my dad standing next to the car with the hood open. I looked inside to see a mash-up of parts and indecipherable wires. The smell of the garage smelled a bit rank as I watched my dad intently. My career choice to become an automotive technician began in that garage. It is not a surprise that time spent with my Dad influenced me. My faith and quality family time is essential to my family. We attend church every Sunday and I have attended Sunday School and youth groups for as long as I can remember. My faith helps me to be hopeful and has been central to my upbringing. My mixed cultural heritage allows me to have a sensitivity and understanding of other ethnicities and others who are of mixed heritage. I am proud to say that I have maintained Honor Roll status during my time in high school. My course load was a mixture of Academic, Honors, and vocational-technical classes. I consider myself to be a well-rounded person because of my deliberate class choices. So how can I make a positive impact on the world as an automotive technician? As long as there are cars on the road, there will be a need for someone to repair them. I plan to play an integral part in the safety of people while they are on the road. I will be proficient in repairing and maintaining brakes, engines, and various parts of the automobile. Essentially, I will be responsible for keeping drivers safe by maintaining the health and wellness of their personal vehicles. With my background and expertise in how the car functions, I know I can play a positive role by preventing injuries from happening because of a malfunctioning vehicle. Beyond performing the standard oil changes and brake repair, understanding the technology of hybrid and electric vehicles in how the car functions is important. My proficiency with electric and hybrid vehicles will limit the amount of air pollution. With the emphasis on clean air and a clean environment, I can contribute positively by making the air safer to breathe; contributing to cleaner air makes the environment healthy. The lower the emissions from these types of cars, the lower the pollution! It is a win-win. Lastly, there are car companies that contribute and give back to the community. These car companies join non-profit organizations to improve the environment, recover from disasters, and feed the hungry. Some companies donate to charities, provide school supplies and help those in need. It is imperative that I work for a car company that gives back to the community. It is my personal choice to work for a car company that gives back as well as for me personally to do the same thing. Knowing that my workplace places an emphasis on community outreach is important to me because paying it forward makes me feel good. My career choice to become an automotive technician to keep people safe, contribute towards cleaner air, and work for a car company that gives back to the community is how I plan to make a positive impact. Thank you Dad. Thank you to the Ms. Kathryn Graham Memorial Scholarship Committee for this opportunity to apply for this scholarship.

Revving the Engine for the Future “Come on over here son! Watch and learn!” I will never forget the rancid smell of that garage and watching my dad, having grease stains on his pants, working under the hood. He would frequently show me how to change the fluids, put air into the tires and expose me to all parts of the car’s function. My passion to become an Automotive Technician began in that garage working with my dad. Assisting my dad, having taken two Automotive Technology courses in high school and getting some hands-on experience, I knew that this was going to be the right career path for me. I am a problem solver, enjoy working with my hands and have an interest in cars. I know that this is a perfect-fit profession for me. I can help people while having a career that I am passionate about. It is a win-win! Overall, the automotive industry is experiencing a severe shortage of automotive technicians who are trained in hybrid and electric vehicles. Since this is the trend of the industry, I want to make an impact on the industry by being proficient in effectively performing work on cars with these types of systems. Upon completion of the Automotive Technology program at Mercer County Community College and receiving my A.A.S degree (Associate of Applied Science), I want to join the workforce as a Master Technician by receiving certification through the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Becoming a Master Technician will allow me to be more marketable to car companies and demonstrates my proficiency in maintenance of vehicles that use alternative fuel. With proper training and work experience, my ultimate goal is to become a shop supervisor. How will this scholarship help me pursue my future career goals? An Automotive Technology degree is expensive and truthfully I do not want to go into debt and join the millions of student loan borrowers in this country who are pleading on the steps of Capitol Hill to have their loans forgiven! I want to concentrate on learning the “tools of the trade” rather than on my student loan debt. My parents always taught me that hard work pays off and I believed them. I have worked hard, studied hard and I want to prove them right by winning this scholarship. Winning this scholarship will be beneficial to me as the money will go towards paying for the multiple automotive-related classes needed towards earning my degree, paying for the PPE (personal protective equipment) and Snap-on tools that are required in the automotive labs and on my internships. This scholarship can also help to pay for the multiple certification exams that I need to take towards my goal of becoming a Master Automotive Technician. Essentially, this scholarship will help “jumpstart” my career to join the workforce as a certified automotive technician. I know I can contribute heavily to an automotive career because I have a deep passion to work in the automotive industry. I have the skill, the will and the “drive” needed to be successful! See you under the hood! Thank you for this opportunity to help "jumpstart" my career as an Automotive Technician.

Beyond Oil Changes and Brake Repair Vroom!. . . vroom!. . . vroom! . . .that is the sound of a V6 engine of a Camaro. I am not an engine whisperer but with my passion for cars and my desire to become an automotive technician, it won’t be long. My passion to become an automotive technician began in the garage working with my dad. Assisting my dad, having taken two Automotive Technology courses in high school and getting some hands-on experience both in class and on my own, I knew that this was going to be the right career path for me. I am a problem solver who enjoys working with my hands. This paired with my interest in cars, is a perfect fit. I want a profession where I can help people while having a career that I am passionate about. It is a win-win! The future of the automotive industry involves the production of electric and hybrid vehicles. Since this is the trend of the industry, I want to make an impact on the industry by being proficient in effectively performing work on cars with these types of systems. In addition, I want to positively contribute to the industry by learning, understanding and maintaining the technical components of today’s cars. The manufacturing of cars and how they function is always changing and becoming more technical. Beyond performing the standard oil changes and brake repair, understanding the technology of hybrid and electric vehicles in how the car functions is important. Gone are the days when you could have Uncle Joe fix your car! With the emphasis on clean air and a clean environment, I can make a difference by making the air safer to breathe which in turn makes the environment healthy. My proficiency with electric and hybrid vehicles will limit the amount of air pollution. So I can contribute to cleaner air; the lower the emissions from these types of cars, the lower the pollution! In addition, I plan to use my interpersonal communication skills to effectively communicate with customers and thoroughly explain the services needed on their cars. I want to reverse the stereotype of the auto repair industry not giving the customer a clear and efficient diagnosis of their cars. I am applying for this scholarship because education is expensive and truthfully I do not want to go into debt and join the millions of student loan borrowers in this country who are pleading on the steps of Capitol Hill to have their loans forgiven! I want to concentrate on learning the “tools of the trade” rather than on a student loan debt. My parents always taught me that hard work pays off and I believed them. I have worked hard, studied hard and I want to prove them right by winning this scholarship. Winning this scholarship will be beneficial to me as it will go towards paying for the multiple classes needed towards earning my degree, paying for the PPE (personal protective equipment) and Snap-on tools that are required. This scholarship can also help to pay for the certification exams that I take to become a Master Automotive Technician. Essentially, this scholarship will help “jumpstart” my career to join the workforce as a certified automotive technician. I know I can contribute heavily to an automotive career because I have a deep passion for the industry and I am willing to put in the time and effort needed to be successful! See you under the hood!

From Tinkering to Technology VROOM!. . .VROOM! . . .VVRRROOOOM! As long as there are cars on the road, there will be a need for someone to repair them. My career goal is to become a certified automotive technician. I am a problem solver who enjoys working with my hands. This, paired with my interest in cars, is a perfect fit. I have always been fascinated by cars and how they work. My inspiration to pursue a career in the automotive industry stems from my childhood. Every now and then I would help my dad with basic maintenance on said cars but we never did anything super advanced. This led me to look up videos on more advanced maintenance. My interest in becoming an Automotive Technician and choosing a trade career increased while taking two Automotive Technology courses in high school. Assisting my dad, having taken two automotive courses and getting some hands-on experience both in class and on my own, I knew that this was going to be the right career path for me. Additionally, I am choosing this career because I like to work and wanted to begin working soon after graduation. I wanted a profession where I could help people while having a career that I am passionate about. It’s a win-win. During the COVID pandemic, while taking classes online, it was a challenge to participate in class and learn. Upon returning to school, I was more engaged and learned better with hands-on application. My automotive teacher was very thorough and engaging which sparked my interest even further. While in my Automotive classes and learning about all aspects of vehicle diagnosis and repair, my participation was seamless. With so many features being added into cars, today’s cars are more computerized than ever and function more like mobile computers. The manufacturing of hybrid and electric cars and how they function is always changing and becoming more technical. As a result, there is just so much to learn in this industry beyond performing the standard oil changes and brake repair. The challenging rigor of my course load in high school and the hands-on required automotive internship at the community college will prepare me for this demanding career. Remember how I told you that I learn best? After receiving my Associate of Applied Science degree, obtaining certification as a Master Technician through the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and gaining work experience by joining the workforce, I want to return and receive my Bachelor of Science degree in Automotive Technology. With my leadership skills as a Hi-Tops Workshop leader and camp counselor, I eventually would enjoy teaching Automotive courses and be an inspiration to others, like my teacher was to me. I know I can contribute heavily to an automotive trade career because I have a deep passion for the industry and I am willing to put in the time and effort needed to be successful. See you under the hood!

By: Donovan Man What inspired you to pursue a career in the automotive industry, and how do you envision your role contributing to innovation and progress in the field? From Tinkering to Technology “VROOM! VROOM!” My inspiration to pursue a career in the automotive industry stems from my childhood when I would always see and hear these loud, fast, vibrant cars in action movies and cars owned by youtubers I used to watch. It was cool seeing them through movies and social media and hearing their engines roar, but I had always wondered what it would be like to see and hear these cars in person. Another factor was that my dad had/has owned some pretty cool cars like a Pontiac Solstice GXP and an old 1992 Range Rover (from Spain) that always intrigued me. Every now and then I would help him with basic maintenance on said cars but we never did anything super advanced, which led to me looking up videos on more advanced maintenance. I would see people performing car modifications and overall learning the inner workings of cars. I would end up taking two levels of an automotive course my school offered for my freshman and sophomore years. It was difficult during my freshman year since it was online and our assignments were mostly videos and questions. But once we were back in school for my sophomore year and able to get in the shop, we had the chance to get hands-on experience and I understood fully what was going on. These classes would cause my fascination to increase even further. Unfortunately, the third level of the class was canceled as our teacher had to retire and the school did not have the funds to continue the automotive program. This would just cause me to research more and more on my own. Eventually, for my senior year of high school, I would get my own car. By this point, I had found other people who had a passion for cars both old and modern cars. Seeing my friend group having a variety of dream cars, having taken two courses, and getting some hands-on experience both in class and on my own, I knew that this was going to be the right career path for me. There is just so much to know in this industry with the constant changes and features being put in cars, especially with the recent spike in electric and hybrid vehicles. My goal is to become a Master Technician through the National Institute for Automotive Excellence. This would require that I take eight separate certification exams. One of the certifications is an Electronic and Electrical exam. Being certified in this area is important because today’s car is more similar to a computer on wheels than cars of the past. Not only do I envision myself becoming more adept at electronics, but I envision myself becoming interested in the car’s emissions components. With the emphasis on climate change, clean air and pollution, I want to work on exploring how a car’s electrical components directly affect the amount of emissions. In addition, with the manufacturing of different make and models of American and European cars, are the emission standards similar or quite different? I know I can contribute heavily to the industry because I have a deep passion for cars and I am willing to put in the time and effort to learn the subject areas (certifications) I need to be successful.