Imagine waking up every morning with anxiety. Imagine knowing every second you spend thinking of how to reduce it, it grows bigger and bigger. Imagine feeling like you have done all you can, but, just like the Titanic, your finance is doomed to sink. That is the feeling of financial burden. From my first day in college to today, I have had this feeling in my heart. I worked two full-time jobs during the summers and sometimes three part-time jobs during the school semesters. Yet, there is always an outstanding balance email that buzzes on my phone every month. I am an international student, so I do not get the benefits of being an American. Also, my home country (Nigeria) is experiencing economic instability, so no matter how hard my parents work, the nairas they earn every month depreciates when converted to dollars. Yet, just like in the beautiful poetry of Emily Dickinson, no matter how small it may be, hope never seems to leave my soul. Financial freedom means a lot to me. In fact, it is one of my life goals. Growing up in Nigeria, I have developed an appreciation for financial freedom, quality education, and education equity. Before the COVID 19 crisis, 39.1 percent of the Nigerian population had consumption levels between $1.90 and $3.20 per person (daily). Imagine this: 81.7 million people lived in poverty while millions were vulnerable to falling below the poverty line. So you see, financial freedom means something different to me. For me, financial freedom did not only mean being debt-free and having enough investment money saved for retirement. Instead, it means breaking the societal barriers of poverty. It also means changing my story from "I was" to "I am." Lastly, it means negating the stereotype of the media always relating poverty and hunger to Africans. To achieve financial freedom, I am practicing three strategies. My first strategy is to monitor my monthly spending. I have fixed monthly bills like rent, transportation expenses, and credit card payments. Keeping track of these bills allows me to decide how much I can spend or save monthly. This strategy also helps in reducing future debts. My second strategy is to always look for ways to double my savings. It could be getting an extra job or setting up an investment portfolio. No matter what method I choose, I always try to double my savings monthly. My last strategy is to always take advantage of financial relief opportunities like scholarships or grants. Every month, I apply to at least six private scholarships. By doing this, I can relieve myself of the financial burden of college tuition. Hence, if I am awarded this scholarship, I will use the money to pay my college tuition. My college tuition is $15,646 every semester. My university academic merit scholarship is $7,500 per semester. My student income only allows me to pay $2500 into my tuition every semester. Also, my parents can only afford to contribute $2000 every semester. This leaves me with an outstanding balance of over $3500 every semester. Hence, I depend on financial assistance to continue my studies. Getting this scholarship will give me the financial freedom I need to focus on my research and academics next semester. I would like to share my gratitude to the founder (Loan Lawyer, LLC) and donors of this scholarship for providing opportunities like this to assist students financially. Source: 1. Vishwanath, T. (2021, April). Poverty & Equity Brief Nigeria Africa Western & Central. World Bank Group. https://databank.worldbank.org/data/download/poverty/987B9C90-CB9F-4D93-AE8C-750588BF00QA/AM2020/Global_POVEQ_NGA.pdf

I believe it is time to call for a change. It is time for us to negate all stereotypes and rewrite history. I believe it is our turn to support and motivate each other to chase greatness. Most importantly, I believe that I can be part of this change. I can assist in motivating other black engineers and my younger generations to say, "because he did this, I know I can do better." Hence, aside from my passion for engineering and mathematics, the reason I am passionate about the STEM field is that I have seeds of optimism for the black community (in the STEM field). Thus, by continually seeking excellence and supporting people around me, I hope to germinate these seeds of optimism into daffodils of realism. Diversity in the STEM field is crucial for the growth and development of our society. However, according to a study from Pew Research Center, we are still a long way from increasing diversity in STEM fields like computing and engineering. Black and Hispanic students remain underrepresented in the workplace. Nine percent of all STEM workers in the United States are Black, while eight percent of all STEM workers are Hispanic. Even in my day-to-day college classes, there are a handful of black students in the engineering classrooms. Some semesters, I get lucky to have three black students out of a classroom size of 20 students. This data is saddening, and we all need to work together to promote and support black students in the STEM field. Currently, I am using my role in the National Society of Black Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers to support minorities in the STEM field. I have hosted and organized study sessions, engineering workshops, and career talks to nurture and support black minds in my college. Technologies like 3D printing, 3D modeling, or coding with Microsoft Excel are crucial skills for black engineers to learn to become great candidates for job opportunities. Therefore, my events assist them in honing those skills. Also, by organizing science competitions with the Boys and Girls club, I try to inspire younger generations to develop an interest in the STEM field. These events/workshops are my way of giving back to my community and helping minorities ( like me) achieve excellence in the STEM field. Science, mathematics, engineering, and technology can be fun, insightful, and exciting. For instance, imagine how exciting it can be to study the aerodynamics of an electric train, discover the mathematical relationships among prime numbers, or look at microorganisms through a microscope. We need to work together to ensure that people without access to quality education can get opportunities to experience the wonders of the STEM field. Hence, I would like to thank the donor(s) of this scholarship for creating this opportunity to relieve the education financial burden for black students.

Quantum computing is an emerging technology that will revolutionize computing technology. Imagine you have to plan a wedding of 1000 people and you needed to know the number of the optimal seating arrangement for people who like each other to sit together. It would probably take you a few hours to set up the correct mathematical expressions using graph theory, probability, and permutations. If you use a classical supercomputer, it will take less than a minute to solve. However, if you use a quantum computer, it will solve it 100 million times faster than a classical supercomputer. Yes, you heard right, 100 million times faster! The big question is: how does a quantum computer work? A quantum computer has three parts. The first part is an area to house qubits; qubits are the basic units of information in quantum computing. They are similar to the classical bits of 0 and 1, but they can hold a superposition of more possible states. The second part is a method of transferring information to the qubits. The last part is a classical computer to receive and send signals. All these three parts work together to make the computer fully operational. A quantum computer can work faster than a supercomputer because it can create vast multidimensional spaces to represent large problems. Then, algorithms that employ quantum wave interference can be used to find solutions in this space and translate them back into the classical computer for humans to understand. So, why are quantum computers not sold at Walmart? Well, for starters, they are very expensive to build and maintain. Until some innovative engineer and scientist find a way to make the computers economically friendly, quantum computers will be owned by big private or government companies. The housing of the qubits needs more research and development. As of now, tech companies are either using vacuum chambers— to minimize vibrations and stabilize the qubits— or housings units with a temperature just above absolute zero— to maximize their coherence and reduce interference. However, finding housing for the qubits will require improvements and further developments. Sources 1. https://www.ibm.com/quantum-computing/what-is-quantum-computing/ 2. https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/overview/what-is-quantum-computing/#real-world-uses 3. https://www.quantamagazine.org/major-quantum-computing-strategy-suffers-serious-setbacks-20210929/

Educational inequity has become a big problem in our society. Untapped talents of students from low-income neighborhoods are being wasted because of the education gap in different neighborhoods. The American dream that anyone, no matter the social class they are born into, can attain success through hard work is proven to be a myth. Sociologists determined that a child's chances of survival in the United States are influenced by their zip code. This is disheartening, and we all need to stand against educational inequity in the United States and other parts of the world. In addition, we need to stand against educational inequity because it can negatively impact our society. If the problems of educational inequity are left unsolved, it will tip over the first domino of social gap in every society. People from poor neighborhoods will not be able to afford to go to college. So, they end up with low-income wages jobs. Then, their children will not be able to go to college because their parents can pay for it. Just like that, the cycle continues, and an entire generation will struggle to break the poverty barriers because of educational inequity. Hence, we all need to stand together and fight against educational inequity. Besides, education is a fundamental human right References 1. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2016/02/the-costs-of-inequality-educations-the-one-key-that-rules-them-all/

I grew up in a home where we favored delicious home-cooked meals over processed foods. My family did not have a lot of money, but we made the most out of every meal. My father was the concoction expert. He could work wonders with any ingredients you gave him. My mother, on the other hand, was a master chef. She knew the perfect recipes to cook delicious meals. Growing up in a family like this, I began to value the benefits of natural foods. My little brother and I had a small backyard farm where we grew tomatoes, scotch bonnets (peppers), and garden eggs. We dedicated a few hours every day to nurturing the soils and giving the crops the adequate amount of nutrients they needed to survive. This farming lifestyle is what sparked my interest in natural foods. Although I am not studying a field related to food or agriculture, I am passionate about my environment and farming because it is the lifestyle I grew up knowing. Hence, whenever I get an opportunity to plant a crop, I always take advantage of them. Besides, there is a comforting feeling to watch something grow and blossom from scratch. I am also passionate about farming and my environment because it is my culture. I was born and bred in Lagos, Nigeria, as an Igbo man. The Igbo tribe are mostly agrarian in nature, and the celebration of a fruitful harvest is an integral element of my culture. Hence, we have annual festivals— like the New yam festival— to symbolize a moment of gratitude for a fruitful harvest and a moment for farmers to bond as a community. Hence, agriculture and farming enable me to connect with my Igbo culture, and connecting with my culture reminds me of the benefits of community involvement and support. Although I am studying Mechanical engineering, with hopes of becoming a Mechanical design engineer in the robotics/ automation field, there are still ways I can assist farmers in my community. For example, by combining my farming and engineering experience, I can build affordable farming machinery that can assist farmers in planting, harvesting, and storing crops. Doing this will not only increase the productivity of farmers but will also give them the support they deserve as vital elements of our society. Meanwhile, to improve my knowledge of natural foods and farming, I try to cook a new recipe every week with natural foods. I google food recipes and look for the ingredients to cook them. So far, my favorite (but simple) meal to cook is moin moin. It is a delicious Nigerian dish that is cooked with ground black-eyed peas, powdered onions, seafood/meat, olive oil, and some seasoning. The ingredients are simple, but the meal will take one hour and thirty minutes to cook. The meal is nutritious and delicious. I recommend you try it sometime.

We are all different from each other. We have had different academic and cultural backgrounds. Our experiences with society shaped our thought processes and mindsets differently. We have faced various challenges in life-- some we could solve, and some could not solve. So, my question for you is, what do you think will happen if we team up on a project and work in unity towards one common goal? I believe that we will conceive creative and innovative ideas. You see, diversity fosters creativity. Creativity promotes growth, and growth positively impacts every society. Therefore, diversity is important in technology because it is positively impacting the technological development of every society. So, being different does not mean I am not capable. It only means that I am experiencing life differently from others. It also means that I have gained an experience that gives me a different perspective and makes me capable of being a creative and innovative engineer. In addition, although I have been in college classes where I was the only black student, I do not see this as a limitation. Instead, I see it as an opportunity to lay my footprints and set the foundations for younger generations. Hence, promoting diversity in the STEM field is also important because it helps break barriers and negate stereotypes for younger generations. I want anyone who looks like me and is wishing to follow my career path to say because he can do this, I can do better. Thus, I aspire to be the first African to win a Breakthrough Prize or a Fields Medal someday. I am always looking for opportunities to grow academically and professionally so that I can achieve excellence in everything I do. I also aspire to bridge the gap between African scientists and scientists from different parts of the world. Growing up, I have always watched as the media undermined African countries. This was saddening because I was born and raised in Nigeria. Hence, one of my aspirations as a STEM student is to prove that greatness also lives in Africa. In the nearest future, I hope to embark on projects that can provide free education for students. I believe that quality education is a fundamental human right, and everyone should be able to get access to this right no matter their nationality. Hence, I hope to set up schools that will provide free education to students. Yes, I know this project will require financial funding. So I pursue excellence in everything I do. Currently, I am taking advantage of different opportunities to give back to my community and help support others with the resources at my disposal. I hold office positions in two nationally recognized student organizations. I am the program's chair for my school’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers and the communications VP for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. These organizations' missions are to nurture and develop innovative and creative minority STEM students.

One of the greatest gifts we can ever ask for is to have that one person who is always there for us through good and bad moments. Friendship is a state of intimacy and trust between two or more people. It is the thin veil between family and partnership. Starting from my kindergarten years to college years, I have always had a group of people I called friends. There were people that I could trust for companionship. They had my back, and I had their backs always. I would even dare to call them family sometimes. Hence, I want to share the story of a friend I met in college who helped me through tough times. About two years ago, I was new to Fort Wayne. The pandemic had just hit America. I lost my job, my life savings, my freedom, and my aunt to the pandemic. I had no friends around the area to seek comfort, so I decided to join a student organization called NSBE. I joined this organization with hopes that I would be part of a community. Fortunately, I meant a friend named Derrick in this organization. I had a mental breakdown last year, and Derrick was there to support and guide me. He helped me during my job hunt. He would also go out of his way during the winter to drive me to school every morning. Derrick has done more than I can ever thank him for, and I would like to thank him for everything by writing this essay about him. Thank you, Derrick!

If there is one thing we have learned from the COVID 19 pandemic, it is that health is wealth. Besides, taking care of one's health is important and bound to pay off in the long run. Hence, my top priority as a student is to take care of my physical and mental well-being. To do this, I work out three days a week, eat home-cooked meals, and maintain a proper sleep cycle. My job is remote. So, to avoid weight gain or developing back pain, I visit the gym three times weekly and take 45 minutes strolls daily. In addition, I avoid eating fast food. Since fast foods are not economically friendly and healthy, I cook my meals. Although cooking is time-consuming, I find that meal prepping every weekend can help reduce reduce time spent cooking. Lastly, I try to sleep at least 7-8 hours daily. Sleep is a biological necessity for proper psychological and cognitive development in students. Hence, I avoid using blue light emission gadgets or drinking caffeinated drinks hours before my bedtime. Practicing self-care has positively influenced my life. For instance, it has improved my mental well-being. I noticed that tentatively keeping to a consistent self-care routine has made me more disciplined. I am beginning to say no to unhealthy habits/environments. I also observed a significant boost in my self-esteem. I feel motivated and uplifted every time I leave my home feeling strong and healthy. Lastly, my finances are beginning to improve. Since I no longer spend money on fast food, I can easily save money and pay off my small debts.

Although I was in Nigeria during the Ebola outbreak, the COVID-19 pandemic had a life-changing effect on me. I lost more than I can mention. However, just as my mother told me to always remember good in the midst of bad, I want to share the good moments I experienced during the pandemic. For example, I got a chance to work on an engineering project that helped tune me into the career of my dreams. It was my first semester as a transfer student, and I decided to go job hunting after losing my on-campus job as a librarian. However, I could not find any job. So I took a bold step to work on engineering projects to hone my skills on my resume. Fortunately, my professor recommended that I join a group of engineering students tasked to design and build an off— road racing vehicle for the BAJA SAE competition. Thanks to the experience I attained from this project, I got my very first fully paid internship as a mechanical design engineering intern at Continental AG. Continental AG is one of the largest multinational automotive parts manufacturing companies— many more blessings soon followed after this internship.

First, I would like to share my gratitude to the donors of this scholarship. Promoting a growth mindset among students is essential for the development of every community. One of my early childhood memories is my conversation with my mother about my dream to be the best mathematician in the world. It took me years of experience and maturity to realize that my aspiration to be the best should not be judged by how better I was to others. Instead, it should be judged by how much I have grown both academically and professionally. To keep a growth mindset, I recite two mantras to myself. The first one is that it is okay to fail as long as I learn from my mistakes. While the concept of embracing defeat and failure sounds terrifying and poetic, it is one of the ways we can truly grow. Hence, I always remind myself it is okay to fail as long as we learn from our mistakes. The second mantra I recite to myself is that "my name is John Chijioke Iluno and I am born for greatness. The kind of greatness that only exists because I do." This statement acts as an accountable mantra to remind me to always put in my best in everything I do. It also motivates me to seek creative and innovative ways to grow and contribute to my field of study. Finally, it helps build my courage to break barriers and discover opportunities that will make me a better man than I was yesterday.

"Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine"- Alan Turing. This famous quote by Alan Turing motivates me to continue thriving through every problem while seeking creative ways to succeed academically and professionally in the STEM field. Alan Mathison Turing was a famous mathematician, logician, computer scientist, and theoretical biologist— whose works and research revolutionized the STEM field. Hence, if you (or your friend) are ever in need of inspiration for creativity, I urge you to read about Turing, the enigma man!