I come from a line of strong, hard-working, Appalachian-born women who have shaped me into the young lady I am today. I have grown up in a single-parent home with no financial support from my father; thus, my mother often struggled to make ends meet. I recall her telling me many times that I had to receive a good education so that I could support myself and maybe even my own family one day, without having to depend on others. She would say, “Halee, I never want you to have to wait until payday hits before you can buy your daughter soccer cleats”. Although it sounds “cliché”, my mother has truly made the biggest influence on my life. It is her consistent encouragement that I credit for helping me through the many challenges I have faced. I remember asking her why she wanted to finish college, given how difficult it was to balance her responsibilities at home and work. She said she had to do it to show my brother and me how important it was to get an education. I have wanted to be an engineer since I attended my first summer STEM camp. Although these summer camps were expensive, especially as a single mother, my mother would seek out scholarship opportunities and side jobs so that I could attend. She explained that she never wanted me to miss an opportunity because she could not afford it. She always managed to find a way to make it possible for me to attend. She has worked relentlessly my entire life to open doors of opportunity for me that would expose me to new material, culture, or experiences. For months she saved relentlessly so she could surprise me with a trip to New York City for my 16th birthday. Not only did I get to fly for the first time, but it helped me to see that our world was much larger than the small rural town that I lived in. As we explored the Oculus, she told me how God had a plan for me and how I could be a leader in the STEM field following my passion, while at the same time giving back to those who have invested in me and who are less fortunate. That four-day visit to New York City ignited a passion inside me to make a difference in this world! The summer after our trip to NYC, I was sexually assaulted at work. I became very depressed, frightened, and withdrawn. It was my mother who reminded me of my inner strength and the plan that God has for me. She encouraged me to join self-defense/martial arts classes and it was through these activities that I overcame the depression. Instead of letting that event define my life, I have used it to support others going through similar situations. I recently graduated with Magna Cume Lada honors from high school and will be attending NC State University this fall to study Civil and Environmental Engineering. I want to collaborate with other like-minded individuals to find solutions in solving the global water shortage while also ensuring that people across the world have easy access to clean drinking water. With each milestone I meet on my way to achieving this dream, I know that my mother will continue to support me and be my biggest (and loudest!) cheerleader!

To empower someone is to give them confidence and equal opportunity over their own life; thus, for women to feel empowered, society must ensure that all women have the resources available to make their own choices. Although there are many ways women can be empowered, they must start hearing these affirmations at an early age, so they are taught to believe them. By offering resources to women from an early age, they will grow up believing they do not have to be defined by the outcomes of happenstance they were born into. Women are at a disadvantage from birth, simply based upon their gender. Statistics overwhelmingly show that men have greater opportunities to find better-paying jobs, even without a college degree; however, without an education, it is unlikely that a woman will ever find herself outside of poverty by her own merit. The value that women bring to society, whether in a professional or personal sense, is undisputed. The King James Bible states that “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies” (Proverbs 31:10-11) and that “She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her” (Proverbs 3:15). How are women described with such value and adoration during Biblical days yet they are still facing disadvantage in the modern world we live in today? Perhaps it is because there is no action behind the claim that society values women. If women are not given the tools required of them to make the choices in life that they want to make, it makes one question if they are truly free in this society at all. How can a woman who dreams of being an engineer be classified as “free” if she is unable to pursue that dream due to no fault of her own? Growing up in a single-parent home with no financial support from my father, it was difficult for my mother to provide. My mother signed me up for summer STEM camps each year; however, I knew she could not afford these summer camps. I remember hearing her ask each organization about their scholarship opportunity. She would explain that she did not want me to miss out on an educational opportunity because of her finances. Because she fought for me, I was able to participate in STEM camps that introduced me to material that I otherwise would not have been exposed to. These opportunities also allowed me the opportunity to be around peers of like-mind that also enjoyed learning. Our friendships were based on our mutual interest in learning. These camps played an integral part in the choices I have made for my education and future profession. If society wants to empower women, educational and motivational resources must become available at an early age. Young girls should not be limited in what they are allowed to learn based on their family finances. Without the opportunity to participate in activities outside of a normal school setting, girls will not be exposed to interests they may otherwise never know about. We must encourage exploration of these interests and ensure resources are available for all girls, no matter their tax bracket, to do so. I also realize that not all girls have a mother like my own; so many lack any female guidance or role models in their lives. Society must ensure that all young girls have someone fighting for them. Women must believe that society wants them to succeed, and this is only accomplished when there is action behind the statement.

In elementary school, I was the winner of the Jack Kent Cooke “Project Launch” scholarship. That program made an incredible impact on my life and the educational path that I decided to follow. I was able to attend summer STEM camps and participate in virtual STEM activities that introduced me to material that I otherwise would not have been exposed to. These camps gave me the opportunity to explore different careers across a wide variety of multidisciplinary engineering industries. Throughout high school, I was able to take specific courses that helped me to build on the engineering fundamentals that I was introduced to through STEM camps. It was during a 7th grade STEM camp that I became aware of the water crisis that many populations still face. It troubled me that something I had always taken for granted, was not easily accessible for everyone. Water is a necessity for life; therefore, it should be available to everyone. Considering all the technological advances today, it is unacceptable that any population would have to travel miles to reach freshwater. I want to contribute the knowledge and experience I gain from university to help find a solution to this worldwide problem. My long-term goal is to pursue a career in solving the global water crisis. I want to combine the fundamentals of both civil and environmental engineering to discover new solutions that can be used both locally and across the world. NC State is a world leader in research and innovation when it comes to finding solutions to problems. I am prepared and excited to participate in the many research opportunities, student organizations, internships, and cooperative education programs that the university has to offer. These opportunities will ensure that I graduate with a well-rounded education and the experience I need to immediately start tackling Earth’s problems. My current plans include obtaining my bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with a minor in environmental engineering. After graduation, I will take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam and work under a Professional Engineer (PE) as an Engineer in Training (EIT) for the minimum requirement of four years. Once completed, I will be eligible to sit for the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam and qualify for my Professional Engineer (PE) license. A PE license is required if one wishes to hold a senior management position on any public project. During this time, I plan on completing my master’s degree in engineering (MEng) so that I will be eligible for these types of positions. It is important to surround oneself with like-minded peers and a community that contributes real-life experience. The American Society of Civil Engineering offers this support while enabling collaboration between engineering disciplines and keeping members up to date with codes, conferences, continuing education, and professional development. As my career progresses, I will always seek opportunities to grow personally and professionally while sharing that knowledge with my peers. I am also passionate about young women having role models to look up to, especially young girls who are interested in the STEM industry. It is vital that elementary school-aged girls see that there are successful women in STEM and that they can be one too! My mother told me one time that if “you don’t know what to dream about, you can’t dream about it!”. Writing a check to “give back” is an easy way to contribute to many programs; however, it cannot replace hands-on opportunities to teach and develop relationships with others. I want to take part in shaping and molding tomorrow’s generation of female engineers, just as those I looked up to, helped shaped me. When I reflect back on what events have influenced my life the most, I always come back to the summers I spent participating in STEM camps. These summers would not have been possible if not for the scholarships I received that covered the costs of these programs. Growing up in a single-parent home with no financial support from my father, it was difficult for my mother to provide. Once I aged out of the summer STEM camps through local community colleges, I went back and volunteered my time during the summer. It was amazing to see the children, especially the girls, get excited about STEM! I will continue to give back to the programs and organizations that invest in me. I understand that once I have achieved my goals, it is my responsibility to do what I can to ensure that these opportunities expand, especially in regard to young women in the STEM field.

The problem that interests me the most in relation to climate change is how it will affect our water resources. We are already facing a global water pandemic and scientists are unsure of the many possible effects that climate change will have on the water shortage. It is my fear that climate change will expedite the water shortage. I plan on attending university and studying civil and environmental engineering so that I can help find a solution to the global water shortage as well as making sure that every population on Earth has access to clean drinking water. I also hope to participate in research that will help us understand how climate change will affect the water crisis. I am hopeful that we can find better ways to recycle polluted waste in mass quantities into usable water. Once we are able to do this efficiently, we can expand this technology into other environments, such as space.

I am a student at the Lincoln County School of Technology (LCST) where I am able to participate in courses that are focused on the field of study I plan on pursuing (STEM/Engineering). Currently, I am taking Drafting II; however, I have taken engineering and architecture classes also. The school recently received a laser printer that can be used to print designs created through a software program. I knew that I would not have the opportunity to use this printer during my class; however, I understood how beneficial it could for me if I knew how to use it. This semester my instructor was kind enough to let me stay after class twice a week so that I could learn. I decided that I would make corn hole boards for my family to play with on the weekends during the quarantine. I first designed the boards using the computer software and then I lasered the design into the boards using the new laser printer. Afterward, I applied multiple coats of a clear shiny epoxy finish. Not only did I create beautiful corn hole boards, but I became comfortable using both the software and the laser printer. If I were awarded this grant, I would use the money to purchase additional equipment that I otherwise would not have the opportunity to learn about. I would donate this equipment to LCST so that other students with a love for learning such as I do, would also have the opportunity to become familiar with it. It is important that all children be introduced to material that is not taught in a typical classroom setting, and LCST does a good job of doing that. However, Lincoln County is a rural area where the majority of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch and do not even have access to quality Internet. These children are not only at a disadvantage at home, but also in the public school system (we are still waiting on Chromebooks for virtual learning!). How are these children supposed to dream big if they do not know what to dream about? I am thankful for my mother in that she has always tried to introduce me to new experiences, whether it be through engineering camps or taking me to local cities to explore. She has truly lived a "never stop learning" motto. She was in the nursing field for 15 years before changing careers and is now an office manager for a construction company. This world is ever-changing, as we have seen this past year. It is imperative that if one wants to be successful, he or she is adaptable and willing to continue learning and moving out of their comfort zone.

I was working at a religious retreat center when I was sexually assaulted.  My mom suggested self-defense and we found an experienced instructor who also taught in battered women shelters. I gained confidence and fell in love with the sport.  My instructor asked me to star in the production of a commercial.  I knew I could let this experience define me or I could use it for good. I want my story to give strength to those going through similar situations.  I want to be that little dot of light that they can follow out of the darkness.