Growing up as a Native American woman has shaped nearly every part of who I am how I carry myself, how I work, how I overcome, and how I raise my daughter and son. I am a member of the Seneca Nation, and while my journey hasn’t always been easy, it has been full of lessons, strength, and deep cultural pride. I was raised in a household where family came first. When both my mother and sister suffered serious back injuries, I put my own education on hold to help care for them and support the home. As Native people, we are taught early on to look after our families and our elders, and I take that teaching to heart. It wasn’t a setback—it was a responsibility. That time shaped me into someone dependable, strong, and grounded in community values. After working for nearly a decade in the gaming industry, I made the difficult decision to leave my career as an Overnight Surveillance Shift Manager so I could return to school full-time. I enrolled in the Welding Technology program at Jamestown Community College. I’ve since found my passion in welding where hard work, precision, and skill come together to build something real. My classmates voted me “Best Welder” in our group, and I’ve consistently earned top grades. I’ve also completed OSHA training and lead by example when it comes to safety. I never cut corners, and I volunteer to help others operate equipment the right way, because that’s what we do in our culture, we help each other. My cultural identity is part of everything I do. One of the most meaningful ways I carry that forward is through my children’s regalia. Since they were infants, I have designed and handcrafted every detail from the layout and color schemes to the beadwork, ribbon work, and even their moccasins. Each stitch is done with intention and love, connecting them to their roots and preparing them to dance in the circle with pride. Watching them participate in our annual powwows fills my heart. It’s not just tradition, it’s legacy. Some of my favorite memories growing up were at our tribal events: the deep heartbeat of the drums during the Smoke Dance, the smell of corn soup, and the strength of our people coming together in ceremony and celebration. These moments taught me the value of community, heritage, and being proud of who we are. Being Native American means I’ve often had to fight harder to be seen and heard in spaces that weren’t created with us in mind. But it also means I carry generations of strength, knowledge, and survival. I feel that strength every time I weld, every time I help a classmate avoid a mistake, and every time I thread a needle to bead the next part of my children’s regalia. I show up fully Native, woman, mother, student, and I show up with purpose. I’m not just working toward a degree. I’m building a better future for my family, for my community, and for the trades. My story is one of responsibility, resilience, and cultural pride. Whether it’s in the classroom, at the welding table, or on the powwow grounds, I am carrying my ancestors forward and preparing the path for those still to come.

When I was thirteen, I met an underwater welder at a job fair. His stories about deep-sea welding, risk, and precision stuck with me for years. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that moment planted a seed that would guide my future. Years later, I’m now a Welding Technology student at Jamestown Community College, on track to turn that early spark into a lifelong career. My journey hasn’t been linear, but every challenge has shaped my commitment to welding, safety, and leadership in the trades. My circle of blended families has some experience in the trades; my brother had worked in construction as a laborer. My daughter’s father is employed by the Seneca Nation Housing Authority, where he performs maintenance work that spans multiple trades: flooring, plumbing, electrical, and roofing. Even my son's stepmother is an ironworker. Seeing the physical toll that this kind of work can take gave me a strong appreciation for the value of skilled labor—and the importance of union protection and safe job sites. Of all the construction trades, welding is where I’ve found my purpose. I enjoy the precision, discipline, and skill it requires. I’ve been voted “Best Welder” by my classmates and consistently maintain high grades in my program. More importantly, I’ve earned a reputation for leading by example when it comes to safety. I’ve completed OSHA training, and I never take off my safety glasses. I shut down equipment properly, use the correct tools, and help others follow the same standards. One moment that highlights this occurred when a classmate tried to ignite a torch using a lighter. Our instructor, who is 71, working alone with a hernia and bad shoulder, strictly forbids this, as it’s incredibly unsafe. I immediately corrected my peer and reminded them to use a striker. These small decisions matter. In the trades, one shortcut can lead to serious injury or worse. That’s why I take safety seriously not just for myself, but for everyone in the shop. If accepted into a union, I want to be part of improving how safety is taught and enforced. I would advocate for peer mentorship, where experienced workers model safe habits. I also support integrating new technologies like wearable safety sensors to monitor fatigue or exposure to hazardous gases. In addition, I would push for stronger, anonymous reporting systems to give workers a voice without fear of retaliation. My goal is to change safety culture, not just compliance. I also plan to continue my education and pursue a bachelor’s degree in engineering. With that, I hope to design safer systems and tools, combining hands-on trade experience with advanced technical knowledge. I want to become the kind of engineer who truly understands the challenges that construction workers face, because I’ve been one. Receiving this scholarship would ease the financial burden of attending college full-time while raising my children. It would allow me to stay focused on my studies, advance my skills, and take the next steps toward becoming a leader in my field. This essay directly responds to every part of the prompt. I’ve shared my family background, identified welding as my chosen trade, explained how I would improve safety guidelines, and demonstrated how this scholarship would directly support my goals. My story isn’t just relevant; it’s proof of how personal experience can shape a future with purpose.