I learned early that being quick or different could get you in trouble. In school, I wasn’t disruptive, lazy, or careless. I worked fast. I saw solutions before others did. I often arrived at answers using methods that made sense to me, even when they weren’t the ones written on the board. Instead of being encouraged, I was frequently corrected, questioned, or reprimanded. Teachers would tell me to slow down, redo work “the right way,” or wait while others caught up. At times, they seemed frustrated—not because I was wrong, but because I didn’t fit their process. Those moments stayed with me. Over time, I began to understand how easily gifted children can be misunderstood. When a system is built for uniformity, anyone who moves outside it becomes a problem to manage rather than a strength to develop. Working faster or thinking differently should have been an asset. Instead, it often made me feel like I had done something wrong simply for being myself. I watched the same thing happen to other students. Kids who asked too many questions were labeled difficult. Kids who finished early were told to sit quietly and wait. Kids who felt deeply were told to toughen up. What none of us were taught was how to understand ourselves—or why we felt so out of place. That disconnect doesn’t disappear with age. It compounds, turning confidence into self-doubt and curiosity into silence. As I grew older, I chose not to shut down. I leaned into responsibility instead. Running a business as a teenager forced me to understand people, systems, and consequences quickly. Unlike school, the real world rewarded efficiency, creativity, and problem-solving. I learned that when systems are designed well, people flourish. When they aren’t, even the most capable individuals struggle unnecessarily. That contrast reshaped how I view education, psychology, and justice. Gifted children don’t just need harder material—they need understanding. Many experience heightened empathy and a strong sense of fairness. When that emotional depth is dismissed, it can turn into frustration or isolation. I know how it feels to be told—implicitly or directly—that your way of thinking is inconvenient. That experience is what drives my desire to advocate for gifted children who are punished for being different instead of supported for it. I plan to attend law school because I want to work where systems are shaped, not just endured. Law is a powerful tool—it determines who is protected, who is heard, and who is ignored. By combining legal training with psychological insight, I want to advocate for children who are misunderstood in classrooms, misjudged by institutions, and overlooked because they don’t conform. Whether through education policy, child advocacy, or protections for neurodivergent and gifted students, my goal is to help redesign the rules so they work for more people. Access matters deeply to me. Too many families don’t have the knowledge or resources to push back when their child is mislabeled or dismissed. I want to be someone who understands both the emotional impact and the structural barriers—someone who can stand between a child and a system that is failing them. I am not motivated by resentment, but by resolve. I don’t want future gifted children to feel the same confusion I felt when doing well still felt wrong. I want them to know that thinking differently is not a flaw—it is a responsibility. By pursuing law as a form of advocacy, I hope to help build systems that recognize gifted children as whole people and protect the very qualities that make them extraordinary. Thank you for offering this Scholarship. It means so much to all of us that people care. Best Regards, Ethan Chapa

I’m Ethan Chapa, a high school senior with a passion for business and entrepreneurship. I’m currently running my own swim school, Waterview Swim, which I started three years ago. My swim school offers private lessons to children and adults, emphasizing both water safety and the joy of swimming. The business is guided by a program I developed called “Guarantee to Swim,” a unique promise in the industry that helps people gain confidence in the water regardless of age or background. This experience has shown me the power of entrepreneurship to make a real difference in people’s lives, and I’m excited to continue building on this foundation. My business idea expands on what I’ve created with Waterview Swim, but I want to take it further by developing an online platform that connects certified swim instructors with people in areas lacking access to swimming lessons. This platform would allow users to book lessons, track their progress, and access water safety resources from any location. My passion for this idea comes from seeing the impact swimming lessons have on people’s confidence and safety. Learning to swim can be life-changing, especially in areas where drowning rates are high. I want to bring this impact to as many communities as possible, especially underserved ones. I believe this business could make a significant difference in the world by promoting water safety and giving people essential skills. Drowning is a preventable tragedy, yet it remains a leading cause of death in many communities. By creating an accessible, digital platform, I can help expand the reach of quality swimming education, making it easier for people everywhere to learn this life-saving skill. This platform could ultimately prevent accidents and build a more water-safe society. Beyond water safety, I also see this as an opportunity to support instructors by providing them with a broader network of clients and a way to reach more people. I want to be an entrepreneur because I love the challenge of turning ideas into reality and finding solutions to important problems. Running Waterview Swim has taught me about the hard work and creativity it takes to build a business from the ground up. I’ve learned to balance finances, market my services, and develop effective programs that attract clients. More importantly, I’ve learned how meaningful it is to create something that has a positive impact on people’s lives. Entrepreneurship, to me, is about more than profit—it’s about finding innovative ways to improve the world. Through this experience, I’ve gained essential insights into the entrepreneurial journey. I understand that success requires resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to learn from every experience. I’ve also learned the importance of listening to my clients’ needs and evolving to meet those needs better. Every challenge I’ve faced has made me a stronger entrepreneur, and I’m eager to apply these lessons as I work toward my vision of a safer, more accessible approach to swim education. This scholarship would be invaluable in helping me bring my online platform to life. With the funding and mentorship it provides, I would be able to develop the technology and marketing resources needed to scale my idea. I’m excited to take the next steps in my journey as an entrepreneur, using what I’ve learned to expand my impact and help more people access the life-changing skill of swimming. Thank you for considering my application and supporting my dream of making the world a safer place through entrepreneurship. Thank you for your consideration and the opportunity you are providing! Ethan Chapa Waterviewswim.com

I chose to pursue a major in law because I believe in the power of justice to create lasting change and strengthen communities. Growing up in a Hispanic household, I saw how legal challenges can deeply affect families like mine, especially those who may not have the resources, knowledge, or connections to navigate complex systems. Watching my family’s experiences taught me that law isn’t just about rules or paperwork; it’s about fairness, advocacy, and giving a voice to those who need it most. This inspired me to imagine how I could make a difference by becoming a lawyer dedicated to helping people overcome challenges and advocating for their rights. My grandparents have been my greatest motivation to study law. Their journey to the United States was filled with sacrifices, struggles, and a remarkable resilience. As first-generation immigrants, they worked tirelessly to build a better life for our family and to provide opportunities they themselves never had. Seeing their perseverance in the face of adversity gave me a deep respect for people who strive every day to improve their lives and create better futures for their children and grandchildren. They’ve shared stories with me about the hardships they faced as immigrants and the barriers that prevented them from accessing essential resources. They often remind me that knowledge and education are tools that can help us make the world a fairer place. Their words and experiences have stayed with me, guiding my decisions and strengthening my commitment to a career in law. I see this path as an opportunity to honor their legacy and support others in their journey. Through my education and future career, I hope to specialize in civil rights law, where I can support individuals and communities facing obstacles like those my family encountered. My goal is to use my law degree to advocate for justice and equality, ensuring that people from all backgrounds can access the resources they need and are treated fairly. My passion for civil rights law stems from a desire to help bridge the gap for underrepresented communities, making sure their voices are heard and their needs are addressed. I am committed to bringing my dedication, determination, and compassion into my future career, knowing that every small effort can contribute to a more inclusive and just society. This scholarship would be essential to my journey by easing the financial challenges of higher education. Pursuing a degree in law requires significant resources, and with the support of this scholarship, I could focus fully on my studies, internships, and other experiences that will prepare me for a meaningful career in law. Without the financial worry, I would have the freedom to take on valuable internships, participate in extracurricular programs, and immerse myself in learning about how I can be the best advocate for others. Additionally, this scholarship represents more than financial support—it’s a recognition that my goals are meaningful, and it fuels my motivation to achieve them. My dream is not only to succeed academically but also to give back to my community and, eventually, help young people from underrepresented backgrounds pursue their own goals. My grandparents’ legacy inspires me every day to make a positive impact, and I hope that, by pursuing a career in law, I can help open doors for others, just as my grandparents have done for me. I am determined to honor the spirit of the Jorge A. Quizhpi Memorial Scholarship by dedicating myself to a career that uplifts and empowers others. Thank you for considering my application. Ethan Chapa