When I was just 4 years old, my parents gifted me a WII to keep me entertained while they were away. At that time, my mom was in the hospital, about to give birth to my younger brother. I was staying at my grandparents' house, and whenever my father was around, we would play Super Mario Bros. Those were some of the happiest times of my life. To me, life felt simple back then. Seeing my father would bring me so much joy, and we always had a blast playing together. As we progressed through each level and defeated every boss, I felt like we were on an epic adventure. I remember how scared I was of losing the boss levels and how hard I tried to impress my dad. I'll never forget the time we were trying to beat Bowser. I had no idea how to defeat him, and he was constantly chasing me through the lava. My father tried to calm me down, and I felt a sense of comfort when we lost the first time. He encouraged me to focus on Luigi's steps and jump carefully. I remember jumping off the sofa when I jumped off the swinging plank. When we finally beat Bowser, I felt like I had accomplished the greatest achievement of my life. Those memories will always be special to me.

Recently, I became aware of a problem that was affecting my life - anxiety. The realization dawned on me when I attended an event at college. There was loud music playing, and everyone was having a good time. However, some students were rowdier than me, and I felt insecure and worried about what was happening with my body. This experience left me questioning myself and my ability to overcome this problem. It affected my confidence severely, and I worried about how long I could deal with this unidentified obstacle that I now know as "anxiety." Over time, I started to challenge myself and saw progress. I began to do things on my own, such as taking mental walks and practicing breathing exercises to calm myself down. Last year, I started working as a car mechanic, and I found that I enjoyed working with my hands and being able to visualize my work. I had always been a visual learner, and when I had the opportunity to learn, I seized the moment. My interest in mechanical engineering peaked when I did an oil change by myself. At first, it felt pointless, and I thought I was learning something I didn't need to know. However, when I was asked to change the oil again, I remembered how to do it and felt that I could work on cars for a living. When I told my mother that I was interested in mechanical engineering, she fully supported the idea. Working on cars boosted my confidence, and I began to understand that it's better to explore, learn more, and be open-minded than remain limited by my anxiety. It gave me another coping mechanism to calm me down when anxiety strikes. This experience shifted my perspective and empowered me to be aware of how in control of my feelings and abilities I truly am. I am now inspired to grow my interest in engineering into a career path and embark on new journeys. I enjoy working with other students and connecting over navigating challenges and finding solutions. This year, I have learned a lot in terms of challenges. They are inevitable, yet they don't define us, and we are in control of whether we allow them to hinder us or not. I am fearlessly embarking on a journey to become a mechanical engineer. My dream is to build cars, robots, and more and ensure that my inventions are in support of those who need it most- kids and those without financial access. With my determination and hard work, I believe that the University of Houston Clear Lake will help me conquer more challenges and achieve my dreams.

I absolutely love Minecraft! It's hands down one of the best games I've ever played. I find myself drawn to its incredible Redstone mechanics, particularly the ability to create amazing projects. In my survival world, my go-to project is always the farm. It saves me a ton of time and effort, and the water source is a genius idea that propels items down the field while the dropper collects my resources. The game's adventure aspect is also one of my favorites, with all the new biomes and creatures that have been added in recent updates. I especially enjoy exploring the ocean and witnessing the stunning coral reefs and tropical fish swimming around. And the tundra biome is just incredible, with its polar bears and ice mountains. The villages in this biome are also incredibly realistic, showing how the inhabitants have adapted to their surroundings. Though I don't often prioritize decoration, I'm proud of the styles and materials I use to build my house. I've created homes that match the biome I reside in, using different stones and other materials that look absolutely spectacular. Minecraft has truly captured my heart over the years, and I stand by my claim that it's one of the best games out there.

As a first-generation college student, I had my fair share of uncertainties and doubts about where my life was heading. I lacked the confidence to pursue a big career like an astronomer or a doctor. However, as I continued my academic journey and enrolled in dual credit classes, my confidence skyrocketed. I began to feel ready for any career that could help those who felt the same way I did. Then came a setback. I started experiencing feelings of anxiety and worry when I went to places, I was not familiar with, which made me question how I was going to live in this world and cope with this unidentified obstacle. However, as the days went by, I started to challenge myself and gradually witnessed progress. I learned to take mental walks and breathing exercises to calm myself down. It was during this time that I discovered my love for working with my hands and being able to visualize my work. I found interest in car mechanics and started learning the ropes of mechanical engineering. I had always been a visual learner, and I took every opportunity to learn something new. My interest in mechanical engineering peaked when I changed the oil in my car by myself. At first, I thought it was pointless, but when I was asked to change the oil again, I realized how much I had learned and felt confident that I could work on cars for a living. When I shared my newfound interest in mechanical engineering with my mom, she fully supported me. I started working on cars, visualizing my work, and completing every task given to me, which boosted my confidence. I began to understand that it’s better to explore, learn more, and be open-minded than remain limited by my anxiety. Working on cars gave me another coping mechanism to calm myself down when anxiety strikes. Since then, I’ve completed numerous mechanical engineering projects, and my favorite one is a powered fan. It was a gift from my aunt in celebration of my growing interests and growth. The hot summer inspired me to complete this project as we needed a cool breeze in our home. I got it to work with the power of batteries which made the four pistons move the fan. After completing this project, I felt curious about other mechanical engineering projects beyond cars. I’m now inspired to pursue a career in engineering and embark on new journeys. I enjoy working with other students and connecting over navigating challenges and finding solutions. I’ve learned a lot this year in terms of challenges. I now know that challenges are inevitable, yet they don’t define us, and we are in control of whether we allow them to hinder us or not. I’m fearlessly embarking on a journey to become a mechanical engineer. My dream is to build cars, robots, and other innovative devices that will benefit the lives of those who need it most, especially kids and those without financial means. I won't let anything stop me from achieving my dreams.

As a first-generation college student, I had my fair share of uncertainties and doubts about where my life was heading. I lacked the confidence to pursue a big career like an astronomer or a doctor. However, as I continued my academic journey and enrolled in dual credit classes, my confidence skyrocketed. I began to feel ready for any career that could help those who felt the same way I did. Then came a setback. I started experiencing feelings of anxiety and worry when I went to places, I was not familiar with, which made me question how I was going to live in this world and cope with this unidentified obstacle. However, as the days went by, I started to challenge myself and gradually witnessed progress. I learned to take mental walks and breathing exercises to calm myself down. It was during this time that I discovered my love for working with my hands and being able to visualize my work. I found interest in car mechanics and started learning the ropes of mechanical engineering. I had always been a visual learner, and I took every opportunity to learn something new. My interest in mechanical engineering peaked when I changed the oil in my car by myself. At first, I thought it was pointless, but when I was asked to change the oil again, I realized how much I had learned and felt confident that I could work on cars for a living. When I shared my newfound interest in mechanical engineering with my mom, she fully supported me. I started working on cars, visualizing my work, and completing every task given to me, which boosted my confidence. I began to understand that it’s better to explore, learn more, and be open-minded than remain limited by my anxiety. Working on cars gave me another coping mechanism to calm myself down when anxiety strikes. Since then, I’ve completed numerous mechanical engineering projects, and my favorite one is a powered fan. It was a gift from my aunt in celebration of my growing interests and growth. The hot summer inspired me to complete this project as we needed a cool breeze in our home. I got it to work with the power of batteries which made the four pistons move the fan. After completing this project, I felt curious about other mechanical engineering projects beyond cars. I’m now inspired to pursue a career in engineering and embark on new journeys. I enjoy working with other students and connecting over navigating challenges and finding solutions. I’ve learned a lot this year in terms of challenges. I now know that challenges are inevitable, yet they don’t define us, and we are in control of whether we allow them to hinder us or not. I’m fearlessly embarking on a journey to become a mechanical engineer. My dream is to build cars, robots, and other innovative devices that will benefit the lives of those who need it most, especially kids and those without financial means. I won't let anything stop me from achieving my dreams.

Education is important to me as I’m trying to transform my life and my community into greatness. I am deeply committed to helping others with education to uplift and empower my community. Giving back to my community has always been a priority for me. Outside of school, I have volunteered at Crespo Elementary to help tutor students by helping them with their homework and providing academic support., organize work for teachers, and provide technology support for the school. My academic journey has been challenging with dual credit classes but very rewarding. I have always been passionate about learning and have been pushing myself. I have maintained a high GPA and have taken advanced coursework in various subjects. I have also participated in extracurricular activities such as the National Honor Society, Emerge, and our school varsity basketball team. In college, I plan to continue pursuing excellence by immersing myself in rigorous courses and taking advantage of the opportunities available to me. I plan to join clubs and organizations that align with my goals and that also help with communities around the university, and I will seek out internships and research opportunities to gain experience in my field of study. I plan to continue volunteering and giving back to my community in any way possible. I recognize that college will come with its own set of challenges, but I am confident that with hard work, dedication, and support from my peers and mentors, I will be able to achieve my goals. I am excited to continue my academic journey and use my education to make a positive impact in the world with knowledge and acquiring the skills necessary to have a meaningful change. I believe that education can empower individuals to reach their full potential. By sharing my passion for learning and serving as a positive role model, I aspire to inspire others to pursue higher education and strive for excellence. Through community programs and initiatives, I seek to raise awareness about the importance of education as a catalyst for social change. With the assistance of a scholarship, I am empowered to pursue my dreams and make a meaningful impact in my community. Through education, advocacy, and community engagement, I am committed to creating a more fair and inclusive society where every individual can thrive. With this opportunity, I can utilize the power of education to build a brighter tomorrow for us all.