I have chosen Mechanical Engineering as my field of interest because I enjoy learning more about machines, and I wanted to understand what it takes to become a Mechanical Engineer. Mechanical Engineering stood out to me because, after discovering more about engineering in general, I did some research and was amazed at what engineers do. I liked everything about it, whether it was working with or designing machines. Although it seemed like a tough field to learn, I was ready for the challenge because I knew what it would take to be an engineer, and I understood that it wouldn’t be easy. Another reason I chose this field is because of my great-grandpa. He had a significant impact on my life, and even though I didn’t always show it, I knew he cared for me every step of the way. This was an eye-opener and made it a no-brainer to pursue this degree. It wasn’t just because my great-grandpa did it, but also because of what I saw him do. He didn’t talk much about his career because of a language barrier, but I was told that he was a mechanical engineer. What I saw in him was a hard worker, and I believed that he was an engineer because of the effort he put into everything, even as he got older. While I never fully understood what he did, his work ethic and dedication opened a path for me, and it felt like he was guiding me. Some of the goals that have helped me along the way include having the opportunity to earn my associate degree, learning different skills, and getting a chance to work on cars. While these goals may seem small, they are stepping stones that will give me more experience and hands-on opportunities, ultimately helping me discover more about mechanical engineering. I have accepted the challenge, and I want to demonstrate that I have the skills needed to become a Mechanical Engineer.

I have loved math since elementary school. It is challenging, and you can find several ways to solve a problem. Although a situation may be tough, I just felt like numbers click in my head and the minute I just look at numbers it will be fun. I love math so much that I feel like I can sit down and just do problems without a problem because they attempt to challenge me and in general it may not be as aggravating as English. When I figured out that I loved math I wanted to excel in it. I wanted to learn so much more math than any other subject because it would click when learning about it. Just the learning experience makes it enjoyable and the teacher may depend on you and how you learn, but I find it better if the teacher has a whiteboard or does it so I can visually see it. I feel like I am a visual learner when it comes to learning math because seeing what may have gone wrong plays a big part when learning math in my opinion. When I started to excel and math and understood concepts like back-to-back quickly I knew I could learn way more than what I was able to learn. I was able to show this in seventh grade I was able to show I could learn math one by the eighth grade and then from there I was accepted to take it while in eighth grade. I learned so much while learning math, and it was a great experience to be able to learn it. From there I was able to learn so much, I was able to learn Calculus three in my first semester as a first-year student at the university and I am thankful for math taking me this far because it has helped me in many ways already.

One of my long term goal is to get a bachelor's degree before I am the age of 24. This goal of mine started back when I started high school and I had learned about a early college opportunity. I prioritized this goal by completing my associates degree when getting accepted to an early college program when I was sophomore. I wanted to succeed and reach the requirements so of course I did all the recommended classes so i can have the opportunity to complete a associate's degree in the early college program. So my journey began when I was a junior and It was great from the beginning because I knew that I had saved thousands of dollars and I would have a head start when I enter in a university. From there It was challenging but I overcame those challenges and learned time-management and how vital it was to speak to others in my class about course work. From there it was great then in a blink of an I was half way done with my associates degree and was becoming a senior in high school. Senior year I could not believe what I had accomplished so far but I will always remember that getting my bachelors degree before 24. This goal was basically cemented in my head and I knew it was the only thing I wanted at the time. Although this was a long term goal I would set end of semester goals as well so I would not get off tracked, so I wanted to end my class with a A or B but mostly on the A part. I knew this would be an achievable goal because I would need to set my mind right and prioritize homework and not procrastinate. From there I would meet new people and learn different ways to study. Although this would be budget friendly I would learn more and more about universities and learn they are not the same like community colleges. The differences people would give me were absurd but I would understand it. After this classes would go by and I would graduate high school and get my associates degree but I knew that this would only be the beginning of my long journey. Than it began, I started my collegiate career at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, I began my first semester off pretty good with classes I knew I had to be prepared for. This was a different start for me noting that it was really different and how people were explaining to me that would happened. From my experience and I live on campus as well it was a little distracting but I could not let that bring me down while studying in between my break from my classes using what I learned from community college this was different but I can say that it was difficult and was an obstacle to go over. I would still try to get help from the school and friends I would make along the way so it would not be overwhelming but it did not turn out how i would have liked for my first semester but this is only the being I am ready for this obstacle and reach my goal to earn my bachelors before 24.

I am passionate about pursuing my degree in engineering because I love the obstacles and challenges that are given. The challenges provided are like a spike of adrenaline because they can get me going and help to figure out the problem. Although I know these obstacles are very challenging and some may have a way already that can be fixed, but maybe a company may want an alternative way so it can be cheaper and quicker. That is what makes it a real challenge trying to compete against other existing ways to fix a problem. Another reason why I am passionate about my engineering degree is because of my dad although he may not be educated to be an engineer he has shown me never to give up and always give it my all because of all the time he would take to the time to work on something I would want to be there. A prime example was when he would fix the car back then I remember just being out there not knowing anything but observing and to this day I still watch and learn what my dad does. This has encouraged me more and more to learn about automobiles and is a reason why I want to be a mechanical engineer I would like to learn more about what makes a car a car. I have also been impacted by hearing my great-grandpa's story and how he was a mechanical engineer. Hearing his story and his journey after his studies doing what he did shows in his sons and even my dad because I feel like he impacted the family by showing them that even though he would go to work, he would come home and still work on things. I feel like this impacted my dad a lot and that is why he knows a lot about certain vehicles. My great-grandpa also passed away last year so I want to pursue this engineering degree a whole lot more now because I want to show my little brother and also my kids later in life so they will know these skills. These events have shown me that it will take a lot to be on this career path with all these obstacles and challenges. I will be prepared to learn ways to overcome these obstacles. I have learned also that although the challenges may be tough working as a team will help significantly and having strong traits like teamwork, and being open-minded will help. Developing these will help because it is better to work together rather than alone and it is not just these traits that will help, other traits will help. To conclude I am very passionate about this degree and these life events have impacted my desire to learn more about engineering. I will continue my education learning more and more about engineering hoping to find a job I will enjoy for the rest of my life.

1. I am an undergraduate pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, but before attending a University, I was in an early college program. So, while I was in high school, I was able to meet the requirements for an Associate's degree, earning me all my general education so I would not have to do it at a university. 2. This scholarship will help me in many ways because this will encourage me to strive to finish school. This opportunity will also help me out financially, so no student loans will need to be taken out and I will not be in heavy school debt. This will also help because it allows my parents to focus on the important needs they need to fix around the house, so it will not come out of pocket. 3. My academic goals are to pass all of my classes making straight A's, while also attending many clubs that the school has to offer. My career goals are when I finish school I will be able to find a job that I enjoy doing. After this, I want to be able to extend my work and climb the ladder of the company learning other things that are done in the company so I know not every part but most of what the company does. 4. A way that I have contributed to the community was when I donated my old clothes to the nearest donation spot. I have done this many times in clothes that do not fit me. 5. A time when I failed I was disappointed in myself and I was bummed out because I knew I could do way better, but to prevent this from happening ever again is not to develop the bad habits that I did before. Instead, I need to fix them find people to study with, and write everything down when I am figuring out a problem because I notice everything that I did wrong. In these ways that I know I can improve I showed because I figured out what was wrong before. 6. My greatest strengths are teamwork, calm, kind, mature, hard-working, and open-minded. These strengths tend to work with each other while I am working on certain work. It can be with a team and I could be open-minded to everyone's ideas so everyone can be heard when gathering ideas, this also ties into teamwork because it can lead to everyone understanding each other. Another way is that when I am determined to finish homework or even a project I am a hard-worker and calm about it go through every problem and learn the material instead of trying to find other ways to get it done so I can do something else.

When I was growing up, I always told my parents that I wanted to be a police officer, but my plans have changed since then. Now I have accomplished many things in my educational career and am striving to earn a Mechanical Engineer degree. When I was a child I did not understand the meaning of what I wanted to be when I grew up because of this I was giving a response not even thinking about how I would need to get there. As of now, I am earning a degree in Mechanical engineering because it's something I want to do for the rest of my life and I can proudly say that because I understand the pathway and what needs to be accomplished. Although it would be great to become an officer to help my community I think that is something. I do not want to do it for the rest of my life, learning more and more about what it takes to be an officer I feel like I am not able to fill in those shoes because they have a big responsibility to keep our community together and safe. I do know that Mechanical Engineering is a tougher field and the educational path will not be easy but I will strive to give it my all to show that I am willing to learn the process and to do whatever it takes. The overall work and what mechanical engineers can become is interesting because you can split into many fields in mechanical engineering depending on what sparks your interest. I do not know as of yet if I want to jump into Motorsports or whatever else my university has to offer. I do know motorsports is a common pick so I would guess that there will be some heavy competition getting into the concentration but if I do want to pick it I will give it my all. To conclude, I know that I have jumped career paths, but I do know that I only wanted to be an officer because I wanted to drive fast and I could get away with it. I do understand that that is not how it works now because as a kid I wanted to drive fast it was just like an adrenaline rush just wanting to go fast and now being a mechanical engineer will let me understand the dynamics of vehicles and machinery if I choose the correct path.

Obtaining this college degree means everything, from making me happy to pursue what I love to do to knowing that my family has supported me through my education. Pushing me forward and always letting me know never to back down because of the opportunities to discover the world. Knowing that everyone is different and born in various places we are only secluded from the things we see and know that are around us. Although we know the world is huge education/ this degree will allow me to pursue more things around the world knowing that the world is only getting bigger as I discover more outside my comfort zone. And I would love to make my great-grandpa proud knowing that I did for him even if he is not here with me I know he is with me in spirit. I want to pursue a BS in Mechanical Engineering degree, I want to pursue this because roughly two years ago I lost my great grandpa it meant everything to me because he was there for me and knowing that he watched my dad growing up as well. He pursued a mechanical engineering degree as well when he came to America so earning this degree will be amazing to me because I did for me and my great grandpa. I also do want to pursue this degree because I want to learn more about mechanical engineers and I also want to learn the motorsports concentration that my school offers because it seems the most interesting to me and I enjoy learning more about cars. My long-term goals are to be successful after my education career and I would probably plan on returning to school to earn a master's degree and learn more about different countries to travel the world. I want to experience life a bit so traveling the world and being a tourist would be nice because it would be the first learning more about different descendants around the world. Although it may sound hazardous I would also take into consideration into looking into the countries I visit. Although I will be taking some time off of school I know there would be many opportunities if I earn my master's but will include more school work but I would love to return to school. And finally, learning more about different countries because of this would tie into traveling the world i find it interesting learning more about other people's cultures because everyone is not all the same.