I do not come from a coding background, but I have always been the kind of person who takes things apart just to understand how they work. In my home and in my community in the South Bronx, I am known as the tech guy. If something breaks, someone brings it to me. Not because I have a certificate on my wall, but because I am willing to figure it out. When the refrigerator light stopped working, I did not just change the bulb. I opened up the panel, traced the issue to a blown fuse, desoldered the damaged part, and replaced it. I have fixed broken speakers, resoldered power buttons, brought old controllers back to life, and recovered data from phones that people had given up on. I enjoy the challenge of solving problems with limited tools and no formal instruction. It is not about having the best equipment. It is about being willing to try. That curiosity is what shaped me. It taught me patience, attention to detail, and how to learn through trial and error. Growing up in a community where technology often felt out of reach, I learned how to make it accessible. That mindset is what led me to pursue a degree in electrical engineering at NYU Tandon. I am now connecting what I have done instinctively for years with the theory behind it. Every course I take deepens my understanding of how systems work and how they can be improved. But learning is only part of my goal. I want to use my skills to give others the confidence to explore, fix, and build on their own. Many people in my neighborhood, especially older adults or recent immigrants, feel overwhelmed by digital tools. I have helped neighbors set up routers, create strong passwords, avoid scams, and fix their devices instead of replacing them. I have seen how a little bit of knowledge can go a long way in helping someone feel more in control. In the future, I want to create community-based spaces where people can learn by doing. I imagine hands-on workshops where students can take apart old electronics, solder their first wires, or see how a circuit board really works. I want to teach not just the how, but the why, and make technology feel less intimidating for the next generation of problem-solvers. Receiving the Kyle Lam Hacker Scholarship would help me continue this path. To me, hacking is not about breaking rules. It is about breaking barriers. It is about making knowledge available to people who have always been told that tech is not for them. I want to prove that it is.

I grew up in the South Bronx, raised by a single mother after my father passed away when I was just eleven years old. Since then, my mother has been my rock, my teacher, and the reason I strive every day to become a better man. She only received a seventh-grade education and began working at the age of twelve in the Dominican Republic to help support her younger brothers and sisters. Desde chiquita, she carried the weight of others on her shoulders without complaint. When she came to the United States, she continued to work hard, eventually taking a job as a meat wrapper in a supermarket meat department. It was demanding, physical work with long hours and early mornings, but she never let it stop her from showing up for us. I watched her stretch every dollar, lift every burden, and never once ask for recognition. Her resilience was quiet, but it was powerful. It grounded me. That strength is what pushed me to return to school and pursue a degree in electrical engineering at NYU Tandon. I did not take the straight path. I left school, found work, and returned later with intention. Along the way, I learned that success is not defined by how fast you move, but by how deeply you are rooted in purpose. My mother raised me to think critically, speak with care, and stand firm in what I believe. She taught me that dignity is found in hard work, and that knowledge, whether learned in a classroom or through lived experience, is something no one can take from you. Those lessons follow me through every exam, every project, and every late night spent studying. I carry my Dominican pride with me in everything I do. I am proud of where I come from, proud of the language, the culture, the music, and the warmth that fills our homes even when money is tight. I want to use my education to uplift others, especially in communities like the one I grew up in. Whether it is helping elders navigate technology, improving access to city resources, or mentoring younger students who do not yet see their own potential, I want my work to reflect the values my mother raised me with: compasión, disciplina, y fuerza silenciosa. This scholarship would not just support my studies. It would honor the woman who shaped my life and give me another step toward building the kind of future she always believed I could create.

As a first-generation, returning student studying electrical engineering at NYU Tandon, I carry with me the determination to turn life experience into lasting impact. I did not take a traditional path to higher education. For years, I watched my mother hold our family together with strength and sacrifice, and now that I have returned to school with clear purpose, I see education as more than a personal goal, it is a tool for transformation and progress. During my time at community college, and now at NYU, I have focused not just on academics but on opportunities to contribute to something bigger than myself. One of those experiences was serving on a research team with the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, working toward getting Washington Heights designated as a historic district. That work showed me what is possible when history, community, and perseverance come together. It gave me a deeper appreciation for the stories embedded in our neighborhoods and the importance of protecting and honoring them for future generations. What I want to build is not limited to devices or systems, it is about access, awareness, and advocacy. I want to help create a future where communities like mine are not left behind in the rise of new technology, where elders are not confused by inaccessible programs, and where undereducated neighbors are not shut out by design. I want to bridge the divide between technical innovation and human connection. Whether it is through clearer public systems, grassroots education, or civic technology, my goal is to be part of a movement that listens first and builds second. With this scholarship, I will continue my journey not only as an engineer, but as someone who believes that every circuit, every project, and every idea has the power to bring people together, and that is the kind of future worth building.