I never thought I would write a scholarship essay about taking a shower, but here it goes: Taking a nice, cozy, warm shower after a long day is probably the most taken for granted, simple pleasure in life. It's a relaxing, quiet place where everything is calm. It's a place to belt out the best toon or get into a serious debate between your shampoo bottles. I look forward to taking a shower after a long day! It's a place where all my worries wash away. All imageries and rhymes aside, taking a shower is something most think of as a chore. "Ugh, I have to shower again! I could be doing something else right now." Now why is that? Showers are seen as just a step to check off in a strict morning or night routine followed day in and day out. The tunnel vision of just "getting it done" leaves no room to enjoy the hot, steamy, relaxing shower. Our society zooms in the blink of an eye with high speed internet, streaming services one touch away, constant information at your fingertips, you name it. Our minds are preoccupied and clouded by this fast moving information, often leaving us feeling tired and negative. There's no breathing room to stop and appreciate the positive things happening around us. That's why I love taking a shower. It's like a pause and reset button all in one. I can reflect on my day without the constant noise, pressure, or negativity. Additionally, I can reset myself for the next day ahead. It's quiet and happy. Simple if you will. Never take a good shower for granted, water you thinking!

I have loved science and math ever since I can remember. During middle school, I took my first ever technology class that got me interested in the field of engineering. I remember walking in my first day, seeing rows of computers, airplane simulators, bridge models, dragsters, and wind tunnels. I was so excited. But then, streams of boys flooded the seats next to me. I found myself alone, in a room of 30 kids, with no other girls in sight. As I grew and participated in more STEM classes, I found myself within a classroom full of boys multiple times. I began to question if I should continue down the path of science and math. So, I established G.A.M.E (Girls in Aerospace, Meteorology, and Engineering) during my sophomore year. This organization allows young girls to pursue their interests in science and math related fields. Female guest speakers talk about their own experiences within their field, and share their love of science and math. Topics include their motivation, career background, and how they handled being the only girl in STEM classes. I partnered with the middle school and elementary school I attended and set up booths during open house night. Eighty girls signed up! After that moment, I knew I was not alone. After just one meeting, all the girls have thanked me for putting G.A.M.E. together. The smile on the girls' faces when they learn STEM enhances my passion for engineering. The fact that something like this can have a lasting impact on these girls is beyond amazing. I have already left an impact through G.A.M.E. (which I plan to continue in college) However, I hope that my impact is large enough on this world so young girls don't have to be alone when finding their passions for STEM.

I have love science and math ever since I can remember. During middle school, I took my first ever technology class that got me interested in the field of engineering. I remember walking in my first day, seeing rows of computers, airplane simulators, bridge models, dragsters, and wind tunnels. I was so excited. But then, streams of boys flooded the seats next to me. I found myself alone, in a room of 30 kids, with no other girls in sight. As I grew and participated in more STEM classes, I found myself within a classroom full of boys multiple times. I began to question if I should continue down the path of science and math. So, established G.A.M.E (Girls in Aerospace, Meteorology, and Engineering) during my sophomore year of high school. This organization allows elementary and middle school girls to pursue their interests in science and math related fields. Female guest speakers from these fields talk about their own experiences and share their love of science and math. Topics include their motivation, their career background, and how they handled being the only girl in STEM classes. To establish the organization, I partnered with the middle school and elementary school I attended and set up booths during open house night. Eighty girls signed up! The meetings and activities created unity and built confidence in all participants. After that moment, I knew I was not alone. Next year, I will be working towards a dual degree in civil and environmental engineering. During college, I plan to join clubs, stay active in my community, and continue advocating for women in STEM. My goal in life is to help others. That's why I established G.A.M.E. and that's why I want to become an engineer. We are not alone, we are the future.

One word can answer that question: positivity. My name is Hannah Mathis and I plan to study civil and environmental engineering when I go to college. I actually have a job as a Support Engineer currently. I create building plans, go on sites, and conduct marketing for the company. I am the youngest employee there, so I get teased a little for my hyper excitement often. There was a day at work where I finished my first life safety plan and my boss said he was going to redline my project and make edits to anything I missed. I exclaimed, "Wow, my first redline! I am so excited!" One of my teammates looked at me weird and said, "Really? I think of redlines as a bad grade where a teacher crosses everything out with a red pen." I thought for a second and realized how different my outlook was compared to my teammate's. Since he had been in the field of engineering for a while, he had been through so many redlines by now. This was only my first one and let's just say it was brutal. Red dashes and marks everywhere! I couldn't believe how many elements I forgot in my plan. I took a deep breathe... My first ever redline! Not a tear fell from my giddy face because the fact that I am an 18 year old with an engineering job who even attempted to create a life safety plan is beyond any red mark that touched the page. The key to living a long, healthy life is to never dwell on negativity. Embracing each positive moment and step leads, ultimately, to success. Constitute the redline for what it is: a reminder that for every negative feedback point, there's a million other things to be proud of.

My name is Hannah Mathis. I was born in Kansas and grew up in a tiny town named Louisburg; known only for its farming and Cider Mill Donuts. I lived there for 9 years before moving to Land O Lakes, Florida in the summer of 2013. During middle school, I took multiple advanced courses, including my first ever technology class that got me interested in the field of engineering. I remember walking in my first day, seeing rows of computers, airplane simulators, bridge models, dragsters, and wind tunnels. I was so excited. But then, streams of boys flooded the seats next to me. I found myself alone, in a room of 30 kids, with no other girls in sight. The dreams of engineering and helping the environment were cultivated further while attending Sunlake High School for 9th-12th grade. However, as I grew and participated in more STEM classes, I found myself within a classroom full of boys multiple times. I began to question if I should continue down the path of science and math. I was fed up being the only girl in the school's STEM electives but I loved math and science too much to let it go. I embraced the challenge head on and brainstormed ways to get girls interested in STEM. So, I established G.A.M.E (Girls in Aerospace, Meteorology, and Engineering). Female guest speakers from these fields talk about their own experiences and share their love of science and math. Topics include their motivation, their career background, and how they handled being the only girl in STEM classes. To establish the organization, I partnered with the middle school and elementary school I attended and set up booths during open house night. Eighty girls signed up! After that moment, I knew I was not alone. During my junior year, I applied and received an internship at an engineering firm. Due to my efforts, I now work as a Support Engineer at Advanced Engineering Consultants. I complete floor, sprinkler, and life safety plans, while also participating in site visits and marketing projects. I have gained experience in all aspects of engineering through this job. Each day I work closer to my dream of earning my Civil and Environmental Engineering degree. The future of our world depends on new ideas in STEM. I plan to achieve this goal by attending the UA Whitaker College of Engineering at Florida Gulf Coast University in the fall. While there, I will pursue my dual degree with a goal of achieving a Master’s degree. That little girl that grew up in the small town of Louisburg, Kansas, I know, would have never dreamt of being here, looking onto her future, knowing that the field she is going into can change the world for the better. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to live in Florida. Many call it the sunshine state, but I would argue it’s the state of opportunity. The resources and services that community of Florida have provided me outnumber the ones in Kansas. If my family and I had not moved from Kansas all those years ago, I would not be where I am today. Without my education I would not be where I am today. That is why education is so important to me. In my eyes, education is the key to any success. Without G.A.M.E., the internship, or classes I took, I would not be where I am today. I wanted to thank you for your consideration of my efforts and credentials, and I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to apply for this wonderful scholarship.

I was born in Kansas and grew up in a tiny town named Louisburg; known only for its farming and Cider Mill Donuts. I lived there for 9 years before moving to Land O Lakes, Florida in the summer of 2013. During middle school, I took multiple advanced courses, including my first ever technology class that got me interested in the field of engineering. I remember walking in my first day, seeing rows of computers, airplane simulators, bridge models, dragsters, and wind tunnels. I was so excited. But then, streams of boys flooded the seats next to me. I found myself alone, in a room of 30 kids, with no other girls in sight. I managed to make friends with the boys, even though most of them made fun of me for being the only girl. The dreams of engineering and helping the environment were cultivated further while attending Sunlake High School for 9th-12th grade. However, as I grew and participated in more STEAM classes, I found myself within a classroom full of boys multiple times. I began to question if I should continue down the path of science and math. I was fed up being the only girl in the school's STEAM electives. I loved math and science too much to let it go. I embraced the challenge head on and brainstormed ways to get girls interested in STEAM. So, I established G.A.M.E (Girls in Aerospace, Meteorology, and Engineering) during my sophomore year. This organization allows elementary and middle school girls to pursue their interests in science and math related fields. Female guest speakers from these fields talk about their own experiences and share their love of science and math. Topics include their motivation, their career background, and how they handled being the only girl in STEAM classes. To establish the organization, I partnered with the middle school and elementary school I attended and set up booths during open house night. Eighty girls signed up! The meetings and activities created unity and built confidence in all participants. It was at that moment I knew I was not alone. During my tenure at Sunlake High School, I have taken many STEAM related courses, including Aerospace Technology, Biology Honors, Chemistry Honors, AP Environmental Science, and Physics Honors. I am a member of the Science Honor Society and the Environmental Preservation Club. Through these courses and organizations, I have been able to participate in many labs, activities, and community service events, ultimately helping others and creating a positive difference in the community, while also increasing my passions for STEAM. During my junior year, I applied and received an internship at an engineering firm. Due to my efforts, I now work as a paid Support Engineer at Advanced Engineering Consultants. I complete floor, sprinkler, and life safety plans, while also participating in site visits and marketing projects. I have gained experience in all aspects of engineering through this job. Although I have already made an impact through my passion for science and math, I know I can continue getting more girls interested in STEAM related fields as I pursue my education. Each day I work closer to my dream of earning my Civil and Environmental Engineering degree. The future of our world depends on new ideas in STEAM. I appreciate your consideration of my efforts and credentials, and I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to apply for this wonderful scholarship.

I will make a difference in this world by motivating young women to pursue careers in STEM related fields, while also coming up with solutions to emerging civil and environmental issues through the field of engineering. In 7th grade, I decided to enroll in a Technology class. I remember walking in on my first day, seeing rows of computers, airplane simulators, bridge models, dragsters, and wind tunnels. I was so excited. But then, streams of boys flooded the seats next to me. I found myself alone, in a room of 30 kids, with no other girls in sight. I managed to make friends with the boys, even though most of them made fun of me for being the only girl. As I grew and participated in more STEM classes, I found myself within a classroom full of boys multiple times. I began to question if I should continue down the path of science and math. I often thought, "What difference would it make?" I was fed up being the only girl in the school's STEM electives. I loved math and science too much to let it go. I embraced the challenge head on and brainstormed ways to get girls interested in STEM. So, I established G.A.M.E (Girls in Aerospace, Meteorology, and Engineering). This organization allows elementary and middle school girls to pursue their interests in science and math related fields. Female guest speakers from these fields talk about their own experiences and share their love of science and math. Topics include their motivation, their career background, and how they handled being the only girl in STEM. To establish the organization, I partnered with the middle school and elementary school I attended and set up a booth during open house night. Eighty girls signed up! It was at that moment I knew I was not alone. The meetings and activities created unity and built confidence in all participants. My junior year of high school, I applied and received an internship at an engineering firm. I remember walking in on my first day, green business dress on, briefcase in hand, computers everywhere, and blueprints spread across the tables. I entered a room full of college seniors, looking at me. Except this time, I was accepted by everyone, both male and female. Working as a paid Support Engineer at Advanced Engineering Consultants, I now complete floor, sprinkler, and life safety plans, while also participating in site visits and marketing. During my tenure, I have gained experience in all aspects of engineering and have learned the importance the field has on our future. Engineers formulate ways to solve the world’s problems, whether that be through sustainable building development, environmental protection, complicated structure design, or anything in between. Engineers are at the forefront of our future. My boss, Michael Hoffman told me that “Engineering is a profession that is taken for granted by our society. You don’t see movies made about engineers, even if they build and design the buildings you sit in right now.” I have a passion for math and science and know that I can positively impact growing societal concerns around climate change, water conservation, and infrastructure by pursuing a Dual Civil and Environmental Engineering Degree. Being the only girl in those STEM classes was never going to stop me. Instead, it allowed me to rise above that obstacle, placing me at the forefront of our future.