Whether it’s working for a nonprofit, a tech company, or starting something new, my goal is the same: to make resources easier to reach, help others succeed, and keep improving myself along the way. I believe that learning is a lifelong process, and I’m committed to gaining new skills and knowledge to make a bigger impact. I want to study Engineering. I have been curious about "how things work" since I was a young boy. Its a trait I get from my Dad. Studying Engineering will allow me to combine creativity with the techincal elements of designing spaces. A large problem that I see facing our modern society is the housing of the homeless. I think that something so essential like a warm place to sleep should be accessible to anyone who needs it. I want to help by designing cheap and efficient housing for places like New York or California that really need it. Making affordable housing in places with out of reach housing prices could affect the housing market in that area dramatically, slowly settling the problem that we face right now. Going to University will help me understand first hand what cities struggle with, and can look into why these problems occur and how to help. I’m looking for the support from University to be able to dig deeper to create what’s possible. I want to graduate in four years and dive into making a difference. I spent a semester of high school living in Scotland as an exchange student. This gave me a glimpse into how other cultures live, and I can use this knowledge to adapt to how we live our lives here in America. My ambition is built on curiosity and empathy. I want to understand the problems people face and find ways to help. I like working on teams and across different fields because big problems need different ideas and teamwork. Whether it’s finding new solutions, improving policies, or being a helpful leader, I want to make things better wherever I go. In the end, my goal is to live with purpose and help create positive change. I don’t just want to do well in a career; I want my work to show values like fairness, hard work, and growth. For me, it’s not about one job or industry, but about the difference I can make wherever I am, while always striving to learn and grow.

My first experience with mental health crises was when I was 8. On March 3, 2015, my life changed forever when my mother sat my 3-year-old brother and me down to tell us that our father had died. Too young to understand what was happening, I just knew she was telling us he was never coming home. I look at the drawings I made at that young age and it breaks my heart to see me trying to make sense of the tragedy. I drew pictures of our family of 4, and crossed him out. I drew pictures of him in heaven, meeting his Mom and his cat. I was so young, struggling to make sense of my new world. The drawings are a poignant statement to a child's attempt to reconcile an incomprehensible loss. Losing my dad from a mental illness when I was young profoundly impacted my life and my understanding of mental health. As I entered high school, I began to get a better understanding of the circumstances surrounding my father's death. I learned that he had struggled with depression, a debilitating illness that ultimately led to a mental health crisis. High school provided the framework I needed to process my experience, and knowledge to understand the complexities of depression and mental illness. I came to realize that it is a disease, not a personal failing or a choice, and that it is no one's fault. I've also learned about the importance of support systems and the power of seeking help. My Mom has been the rock of our family, and been the support for my brother and me as we have grown up. We have been to therapy as a family, and I have talked to a therapist for myself as well. Moving forward, I want to be someone who listens without judgment and encourages others to get the help they need. I also believe in the power of sharing my story to help reduce stigma. I lost my Dad when I was in 2nd grade – and when I was in 4th and 5th grade, I was often asked to speak to other children who had experienced the loss of a parent. While I never sought this role, I found that sharing my experience could offer comfort and hope to others facing similar challenges. While I don't often draw attention to my father's death or seek sympathy, I acknowledge that it has profoundly shaped who I am. When I hear stories of my Dad, I see so much of myself in him. He was quiet, resourceful, and skilled at building and fixing things – traits I inherited from him. I love thinking that he is shaping me even when he’s not here – having this connection to him brings me comfort. I have spent my Senior year at DSHS in the Auto Tech program rebuilding my Mazda Miata, and I know he would have been so proud of me. My Mom has worked hard to build our family of 3, and she tried really hard to give my brother and I all the opportunities that children from two-parent households have. I am applying for this scholarship because I know that college is very expensive, and I want to alleviate some of that stress for her. This scholarship would make a substantial difference for our family, and it would be my way of giving back to my mother for her love and dedication, and for fulfilling the roles of both parents.