"Excellence of performance will transcend artificial barriers.” Spoken like a true hero, these are the famous words uttered by Dr. Charles Richard Drew to his students at Freedmans Hospital in Washington, D.C. I open with this quote because I’ve been inspired by Dr. Drew’s commitment to excellence in the face of adversity. It has helped to mold my character and develop a sense of pride and purpose within. Having grown up in the Bay Area, I’ve been afforded the opportunity to experience different cultures and develop relationships with people from a variety of backgrounds. However, when I think about who I am and my own culture, I sometimes feel that it’s underrepresented even though I live in a region (Bay Area) that is celebrated for its multiculturalism. Much of what I know and understand about who I am, my culture, and heritage has come from home, where my parents share stories, books, music, and documentaries about our [Black] history and culture with my brothers and me. This exposure has inspired me to want to serve my community. And, although I’m still developing as a young man, I can say with a certain degree of confidence that service to others is at my core. I see it as a form of humility that can be quite gratifying. Service defines me and gives me a sense of accomplishment. I have been blessed in so many ways, and I believe that “to whom much is given, much is required”.

Response to Prompt #3 "Excellence of performance will transcend artificial barriers.” Spoken like a true hero, these are the famous words uttered by Dr. Charles Richard Drew to his students at Freedman’s Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he trained and mentored Black surgeons. Born June 3, 1904, in Washington, D.C., Dr. Charles Drew was a pioneering surgeon, medical researcher, and educator. His most notable accomplishment was the development of techniques used for long-term storage of blood plasma, which earned him the sobriquet "Father of the Blood Bank". Dr. Charles Drew’s techniques revolutionized emergency medicine and laid the groundwork for organizing America's first large-scale blood banks. He discovered that plasma contained no blood cells; therefore, it could be transfused into anyone regardless of their blood type. His findings first proved crucial in preserving lives of American and allied soldiers during World War II. His process for safely drying and reconstituting plasma, made it easy to transport to the battlefield. As a prominent scientist, Dr. Charles Drew received many accolades throughout his career. After resigning from his post with the Red Cross in protest of their scientifically unfounded, racially segregated blood donation policies, he dedicated his career to teaching and training the next generation of Black surgeons at Howard University. It’s here that he taught on the premise that if you are highly skilled at your craft, you need not worry so much about racism and other barriers designed to stifle Blacks’ progress. Triumphant efforts in STEM are also evident in [civil] engineering. Iconic bridges such as the Golden Gate and Bay Bridge here in the Bay Area attract tourists from around the world that come to gaze at their structural magnificence. Not only are they awesome in appearance, they’re also crucial forms of infrastructure. But I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge and pay homage to a noteworthy individual that contributed to civil engineering feats that preceded the aforementioned. Heroic figures such as Emily Warren Roebling, who is perhaps one of the most famous figures in civil and traffic engineering. Born September 23, 1843, in Cold Spring, New York, Emily Warren Roebling was educated at the Georgetown Visitation Convent, a prestigious all-girls school in Washington, D.C. She later became an advocate for women’s suffrage and social services for the poor. During the latter part of the Civil War, Emily met Washington Roebling and the two were married in 1865. At the time, Washington Roebling was the chief engineer overseeing the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. However, when Washington fell ill, Emily took over as chief engineer (fearing her husband would lose the contract). Although Washington officially remained the chief engineer and oversaw some work from home through a telescope, it was Emily who visited the construction site daily, attended board meetings, and managed the project. She studied everything she possibly could about bridge construction; it was her mission to see the project to fruition. She once said, “I have more brains, common sense, and know-how generally than any two engineers civil or uncivil that I have ever met.” Emily maintained discretion during the decade she assumed the duties of chief engineer. Finally, on May 24, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge opened to the public. At the time, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world and Emily Warren Roebling would be the first to walk cross it. As we approach 250 years as an independent nation, let us be reminded of what truly makes our nation great: the ability of two minorities, from different backgrounds, whose heroism in STEM contributed to the fabric of American society, despite political climate.

I have long been fascinated with aviation and aerospace. The thought of tons of various metals and other materials traveling through the air at incredible speeds has always peeked my curiosity as I wondered "how is this possible"? Thank goodness I had parents that encouraged me to question and explore the world around me. As a young man, I consider myself very fortunate and blessed with parents who care deeply for me and my brothers. For as long as I can remember, they have poured into my brothers and me, teaching us the importance of honoring, following and serving God. They’ve always encouraged us to strive for excellence in all that we do. So, it only seemed natural that I satisfy my curiosity and continue my "quest" for knowledge through a [formal] college education. Although my hands-on engineering experience is limited to the construction of K'nex and Lego structures, my dad uses every opportunity to teach me something related to the field of engineering (which is practically everything), from automotive repair and maintenance to assembling a gas barbecue grill. With my high school commencement ceremony on the horizon, my immediate educational goal is to graduate! Then I can begin my freshman year at Howard University in Fall 2026. I was recently accepted into Howard’s Mechanical Engineering program, which includes specialized elective sequences in aeronautical engineering. This is important to me because I'd like to apply my education and skills in the field of aviation and aeronautical engineering. I would ultimately like to become a pilot and serve in both the armed forces and commercial airline industry. At this point, I still have a few decisions to make when it comes to my career path. But if all goes as planned, by 2032 I will have graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Mechanical Engineering and earned my Student Pilot Certificate, Private Pilot Certificate (PPL), Commercial Pilot Certificate (CPL) and Airline Transport Pilot Certificate (ATP), all of which are core pilot certifications required in the commercial airline industry. This is important to me because I'd like to not only apply my education and skills in aeronautical engineering and piloting aircraft, but I would also like to open a flight school and perhaps start my own commercial airline. In closing, I would like to share that I have worked very hard over the past four years to meet the rigorous academic requirements necessary for entry into the college of my choice. My parents have been instrumental in getting me to this point. I take my education very seriously because I understand that meaningful education opens the door to meaningful opportunity. So, when I think about engineering as a career path the first thing that comes to mind are the endless possibilities! With all that has been discovered and studied up to this point, there is so much to build upon in all areas of engineering. Therefore, I hope one day to make my contribution not only to the field of engineering, but to the world.