Finding Purpose Below the Hood As far back as I could possibly remember, I've had a passion about autos. I had Hot Wheels when I was young, and I'd sit for hours and hours eying auto videos, believing that one day I'd be wrenching under actual engines. It was all adventure, just then — engine rumble, chrome, action, adventure. I had no idea yet that those early hobbies were to grow into much more. I had auto courses in high school, so I registered out of interest. I did not have a clue what I registered for, but I knew right away I was hooked. Raised hoods, engine operations, dirty hands — they all just clickeeed. My freshman year auto course made my hobby a potential career option. I registered for all available auto courses my school had — all four of them. One of the few times that passion had purpose happened outside class. My dad's auto had overheated and leaked coolant, so one evening I met my dad at his work's parking lot to have it fixed. I diagnosed it, replaced the thermostat, and changed out the coolant hose — all right there. Pride at that time wasn’t merely about repairing something. It was assisting someone who needed that auto to work, to class, to see family. It put things in perspective: autos are more than just machinery. Cars are lifelines. Getting them moving safely and reliably counts more than I knew. That incident put things into perspective and made me work all that much more. I found my senior year internship at a Ford dealer, and I got my initial exposure to a professional shop setting. It was tough, hands on, and full of learning I had not foreseen. Each of my repairs mattered. I began to see that those skills — diagnosing, repairing, communicating — could truly make a tremendous difference in people's lives. Now, I’m a Honda PACT program student at Triton College, and I work at a Honda dealer, too. It's my privilege, I guess, that I’m learning in class and at work. I’m learning technical knowledge, but I’m learning communication, too — to describe repairs, give honest recommendations, and treat people gently, respectfully. Auto repairs to us years ago were just more than engine patching. It's about keeping people in touch with their reality — or that parent who's taking their child to school, or that guy who's headed off to work. I look at every repair I restore as my part of someone's day-to-day reality and their security blanket. Long-term, I'd look to become a master technician, even possibly service manager. More than that, however, I'd look to be recognized as one who handles every automobile — and every person who walks through their doors — gently and respectfully. To continue work towards that goal, winning the Wolf Gustaveson Memorial Scholarship will go a long way towards helping me. As Wolf, I too have passion for automotive technology, and I’m committed to direct that passion towards improving people's lives — one person, one individual, one automotive job at a time.

The Empty Chair at the Table Every year, across the country there are families that will gather around their tables for a holiday or even maybe a birthday, some with one empty chair that will never be filled again. Behind that absence often lies a horrific story some wishing for it to just be a nightmare. Due to DUIs, families are injured and devastated for the rest of their lives. DUIs does not only affect the driver. It affects every one around them. A crash caused by someone under the influence can kill a parent, brother or sister, or closest friend. The families are left with an empty void in their heart and maybe skyrocketing medical or lawyer bills to pay. Alcohol and drugs will impair the brain and it is harder to stay awake, react quickly, and stay in control. Driving under these drugs is not safe because it will unfortunately transform a vehicle into a weapon . Driving is never safe under the influence of any amount of alcohol. There are several ways we can do in order not to let DUIs take place. Foremost is education. Giving teens honest information regarding what happens when you drive drunk or high will allow them to make the right decision. Teachers, society, and parents should give honest information and word, which will shift people’s thinking and realize how horrific DUI is. Technology to the rescue. Breathalyzers and ignition locks will keep a person from driving if he/she is drunk. Ride-sharing phone apps such as Uber and Lyft offer people easy convenient ways of getting home without driving drunk. And additional late-night public transportation will result in fewer drunk drivers on the road. Most importantly, is to do what we can. We must take care of our friends and our families. If you see someone who is about to drive after drinking, tell them something. Take them home yourself, call a taxi for them, or take the keys off them. You could be saving a life. Peer pressure is okay but support is better. We can create a society with individuals who will take care of one another in such a manner that no one will drive drunk. Asking a person to be responsible or seeking help is dramatic. Finally, DUI is a choice that can be avoided. We can all have safe roads through technology, responsibility, and education. Let each choice count. A wrong choice will haunt an individual for the rest of his/her life. We all have to do our part in avoiding DUIs so that no one sits at the table with an empty chair.

I am applying for this scholarship because I love being an auto mechanic; it will put me in a well-founded and fulfilling career where I will be able to get my hands on something. Growing up as a little boy, I was highly fascinated with vehicles—naming makes and models, collecting Hot Wheels, and spending hours on YouTube watching the building of cars. For instance, I would go with my dad to do some repairs in the house or the car, and while working, he would tell me how such and such in a car works or how this or that would work; all of these, over time, crystallized an obvious career ambition to be an auto mechanic. I am interested in transforming my passion for vehicles into a professional life that may also enable me to help people keep their cars running safely while also educating them about how different things function in their daily rides. Working with my hands, problem-solving, and being part of the safety and reliability of vehicles are some things that excite me. This would be too much to handle since the cost to study and train for such a profession is overwhelming, and this scholarship would go a long way in ensuring I receive the much-needed skills and knowledge associated with being an auto-certified mechanic. Later in life, I want to be an influence within the field of automotive by not just properly fixing automobiles but also being a source that others within my community can count on. A majority of people worldwide do not have basic knowledge of how to service their cars or how their vehicles work, leading mainly to costly repairs and unsafe driving conditions. It would be my aspiration to become the kind of mechanic who establishes long-term relationships with his customers by educating them about their cars while at the same time providing quality and reliable service. I want to be in a position to assist people with their decision-making capabilities when it comes to car care, saving money and preventing repairs. This is important because through this, I will be able to give back to my community by being a mentor to interested young people in auto mechanics who need a good role model and a means of support. I think that sharing skills and experiences among the many developing talents is very necessary within the industry. A right scholarship would translate to an opportunity to take a starting point toward these goals in making a difference not only in the automotive industry but overall.