As a young female, it is often unexpected for my favorite area of interest to be in mechanic/ automotive focused fields. I pride myself on my dedication to learning how to take apart complex vehicles and being capable of repairing everything properly, but I am often overlooked when someone needs a tech or mechanic. Though this may seem like a setback, because it feels like nobody believes that a scrawny girl can rebuild a car, it gives me an advantage- I have had to learn how to market myself, without letting the guys in other shops intimidate me. I have had to become an adaptive, communicational, and overall more talented mechanic because of those who doubt me. I value my ability to market myself above all odds. Not only do I value it, but I am so thankful for it- because without the doubts, or the inquisitive looks from 200lb+ men when I walk into the shop, I would have no motivation to prove them all wrong. I strive to showcase my talents so well that they come to me for tips once they realize what I am capable of. I believe that being forced to be better than my opponent for an equal amount of attention has taught me two things that I will carry with me through life, and that have shown me what it's really like to be a young woman in a middle-aged male dominated field: 1. Nobody will ever pick the underdog that doesn't advocate for themselves the loudest, 2. Don't underestimate the power of communication. I believe that just knowing those two pieces of information will serve as a strong backbone for my future, reminding me that just because nobody believes that I can do it, it doesn't mean that they're right.

When I was 8 years old, I began cheerleading. I took every after-school program offered, watched hundreds of hours of practice tapes, and obsessed over being the perfect cheerleader so I could make varsity in high school. And I did, but when I started, I just couldn't stop nitpicking every single time I made an error in practice. Whether it was missing a stunt drop, or not kicking high enough- I couldn't let my mistakes go. And it got the best of me, to where I made error after error one practice, and was so frustrated with myself that I spent the rest of practice crying in the locker room. Now, is that at an acceptable reason to be crying? Yes. Though, is it going to do anything for me to be any better at the stunt I kept missing? No. So, I realized that if I was ever going to be a nationally-recognized cheerleader, I couldn't just throw myself a pity party every time I felt like I wasn't capable of finishing out a stunt. And it was surprising to me, honestly, to have the moment of revelation where I knew I had been straying from my one rule- never act like you've failed at something, so long as you tried again. Unless it's impossible, you've only earned yourself one more way of knowing how NOT to do it. And with stunts, and cheers, and the endurance it takes to be an athlete (not to mention a student one, at that), you're not 'failing' every time you mess up. You're just learning, and learning takes error in order for you to realize how to do it better each time.