When brainstorming my greatest achievement to date, I instinctively thought of my successful progress in earning a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering and the research I have conducted. Academic success has always been a priority for me. However, throughout my time at university, I have realized that an equally significant, yet often unrecognized, achievement is the group of caring and kind people I am proud to consider my friends, family, and support system. As a first-generation, low-income student, I came to college with no funding and no stable support. Every need was a battle. I struggled every year to find ways to move in and out of my dorm room, sat on the sidelines every family weekend, and struggled to say no when my family needed financial support I couldn’t give. School was always my favorite place growing up, and I consistently excelled academically. Although neither of my parents received a bachelor’s degree, college had always been on my agenda. I grew up in a town of 3,000 people, and my graduating class consisted of only 36 students, most of whom I had known since preschool. The most important part of college for me wasn’t just the academics; it was the people. For the first time, I had the ability to choose who to surround myself with. I got to decide the atmosphere to participate in and who to give my time to. The people I have surrounded myself with don’t love me for the way I look or the money I have or don’t have. They love me unconditionally for who I am, and I love them the same. They support me in every aspect of life, whether that means giving me a ride to the bus station for work, allowing me to crash on their couch when I have nowhere else to sleep, inviting me over for dinner, or sending the occasional but intentional “How are you?” text. They are kind, caring, and incredibly smart. They see the best in me, even when I struggle to see it in myself. I don’t take credit for their personhood or success, but I am immensely proud to call them my friends. This experience has taught me that while my education is important, it is not as valuable without a support system. It has given me personal values that are just as important as practical knowledge. It has also created current and future goals of extending the same care and kindness that my friends have shown me. As an intentional mentor in the Self Engineering Leadership Fellows Program and a caring ambassador for the University of Kansas School of Engineering, I hope to bring even half of the comfort my assembled support system has brought me to the new students entering this sometimes scary experience. In the future, I aim to achieve a Master of Science in Flight Test Engineering and work as a leader and entrepreneur in the aviation industry. Based on my experiences in my master’s program and industry, I will decide whether to pursue a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering. My goal is to work on projects that focus on sustainability, innovation, and equity within the industry. I aspire to be a leader who creates an open-minded and accountable work environment, where my team feels confident bringing errors to my attention that must be fixed in the demanding field of flight testing. Looking beyond my career and academic goals (as I have learned the importance of doing), I hope to continue having loving and caring family and friends. I want to provide my family with the support I needed. My personal goals include achieving financial stability and security, so I don’t have to worry about eating healthy meals, accessing healthcare, or providing a roof or transportation for myself or my family. This also includes maintaining a healthy work-life balance, because I am confident I can achieve both impressive career success and a happy and healthy family life. Lastly, I hope to be seen as a leader and friend who is kind, caring, honest, dependable, and intelligent.