My name is Jostin Anderson Tenecela Chillogallo, I'm 16 years old, and I come from Ecuador, a country where I grew up surrounded by toy cars, plastic tools, and dreams that seemed too big for a child. My parents always called me "Fast and Furious" because I spent hours driving my toy cars and "fixing" them as if they were real vehicles. Even though they were just toys, that's where it all began: my passion, my curiosity, and my desire to one day become a mechanic. In August 2021, when I was 12 years old, my life changed completely. My family left our country to seek a better future for me and my brother. Arriving in the United States was exciting, but also terrifying. Everything was different: the language, the people, the food, the customs. I felt like I was starting from scratch. From day one, I promised myself that I wouldn't let my parents' sacrifice be in vain. I wanted to show them that it was worth leaving everything behind. English was my biggest obstacle. Not understanding what others were saying made me feel small, like I didn't belong anywhere. In the summer of 2022, my mom hired a tutor so my brother and I could learn the language. I tried, but I wasn't making progress. I had embarrassing moments at school and in public, where I couldn't communicate well. Sometimes I came home frustrated, but I never stopped trying. My middle school teachers started practicing with me because they saw something in me, a potential I didn't yet see myself. That gave me the strength to keep going. In 2023, everything started to change. I entered high school, and after so much effort, I was finally able to speak English fluently. I felt like I could finally breathe. My teachers recommended I apply to Sollers Point Technical High School, a magnet school. To get in, I had to take an exam. I remember waiting weeks for the results while working in restaurants and helping my mom with her car oil changes. One day, I received an email. When I opened it and saw I'd been accepted, I felt a happiness I can't describe. I got home and told my mom, "I won't let you down. This is just the beginning." Starting tenth grade at Sollers Point was another challenge. Talking to new people in English still made me nervous, but I talked to my teachers and asked for their support if I made mistakes. That helped me gain more confidence. At school, I learned a lot about cars and earned several ASE certifications: engine repair, electrical systems, brakes, air conditioning, maintenance, and safety. I also got certified in oil changes and other basic areas. In tenth and eleventh grade, I was chosen Student of the Month twice. I got a job at Bob Davidson Ford, my teachers gave me a toolbox, and every day I felt like my dream was getting closer. I applied to Baltimore County College and the honors program, and I was accepted. All of that made me realize that hard work really does change lives. Today, at 16, my next goal is university. I don't plan to give up. I dream of opening my own mechanic shop and building the future my family came here to find. I'm a young man who started from scratch, who has fallen, who has learned, and who is determined to succeed. Thank you for reading my story. Sincerely, Jostin Tenecela

My name is Jostin Anderson Tenecela Chillogallo, I'm 16 years old, and I come from Ecuador, a country where I grew up surrounded by toy cars, plastic tools, and dreams that seemed too big for a child. My parents always called me "Fast and Furious" because I spent hours driving my toy cars and "fixing" them as if they were real vehicles. Even though they were just toys, that's where it all began: my passion, my curiosity, and my desire to one day become a mechanic. In August 2021, when I was 12 years old, my life changed completely. My family left our country to seek a better future for me and my brother. Arriving in the United States was exciting, but also terrifying. Everything was different: the language, the people, the food, the customs. I felt like I was starting from scratch. From day one, I promised myself that I wouldn't let my parents' sacrifice be in vain. I wanted to show them that it was worth leaving everything behind. English was my biggest obstacle. Not understanding what others were saying made me feel small, like I didn't belong anywhere. In the summer of 2022, my mom hired a tutor so my brother and I could learn the language. I tried, but I wasn't making progress. I had embarrassing moments at school and in public, where I couldn't communicate well. Sometimes I came home frustrated, but I never stopped trying. My middle school teachers started practicing with me because they saw something in me, a potential I didn't yet see myself. That gave me the strength to keep going. In 2023, everything started to change. I entered high school, and after so much effort, I was finally able to speak English fluently. I felt like I could finally breathe. My teachers recommended I apply to Sollers Point Technical High School, a magnet school. To get in, I had to take an exam. I remember waiting weeks for the results while working in restaurants and helping my mom with her car oil changes. One day, I received an email. When I opened it and saw I'd been accepted, I felt a happiness I can't describe. I got home and told my mom, "I won't let you down. This is just the beginning." Starting tenth grade at Sollers Point was another challenge. Talking to new people in English still made me nervous, but I talked to my teachers and asked for their support if I made mistakes. That helped me gain more confidence. At school, I learned a lot about cars and earned several ASE certifications: engine repair, electrical systems, brakes, air conditioning, maintenance, and safety. I also got certified in oil changes and other basic areas. In tenth and eleventh grade, I was chosen Student of the Month twice. I got a job at Bob Davidson Ford, my teachers gave me a toolbox, and every day I felt like my dream was getting closer. I applied to Baltimore County College and the honors program, and I was accepted. All of that made me realize that hard work really does change lives. Today, at 16, my next goal is university. I don't plan to give up. I dream of opening my own mechanic shop and building the future my family came here to find. I'm a young man who started from scratch, who has fallen, who has learned, and who is determined to succeed. Thank you for reading my story. Sincerely, Jostin Tenecela

My name is Jostin Anderson Tenecela Chillogallo, I'm 16 years old, and I come from Ecuador, a country where I grew up surrounded by toy cars, plastic tools, and dreams that seemed too big for a child. My parents always called me "Fast and Furious" because I spent hours driving my toy cars and "fixing" them as if they were real vehicles. Even though they were just toys, that's where it all began: my passion, my curiosity, and my desire to one day become a mechanic. In August 2021, when I was 12 years old, my life changed completely. My family left our country to seek a better future for me and my brother. Arriving in the United States was exciting, but also terrifying. Everything was different: the language, the people, the food, the customs. I felt like I was starting from scratch. From day one, I promised myself that I wouldn't let my parents' sacrifice be in vain. I wanted to show them that it was worth leaving everything behind. English was my biggest obstacle. Not understanding what others were saying made me feel small, like I didn't belong anywhere. In the summer of 2022, my mom hired a tutor so my brother and I could learn the language. I tried, but I wasn't making progress. I had embarrassing moments at school and in public, where I couldn't communicate well. Sometimes I came home frustrated, but I never stopped trying. My middle school teachers started practicing with me because they saw something in me, a potential I didn't yet see myself. That gave me the strength to keep going. In 2023, everything started to change. I entered high school, and after so much effort, I was finally able to speak English fluently. I felt like I could finally breathe. My teachers recommended I apply to Sollers Point Technical High School, a magnet school. To get in, I had to take an exam. I remember waiting weeks for the results while working in restaurants and helping my mom with her car oil changes. One day, I received an email. When I opened it and saw I'd been accepted, I felt a happiness I can't describe. I got home and told my mom, "I won't let you down. This is just the beginning." Starting tenth grade at Sollers Point was another challenge. Talking to new people in English still made me nervous, but I talked to my teachers and asked for their support if I made mistakes. That helped me gain more confidence. At school, I learned a lot about cars and earned several ASE certifications: engine repair, electrical systems, brakes, air conditioning, maintenance, and safety. I also got certified in oil changes and other basic areas. In tenth and eleventh grade, I was chosen Student of the Month twice. I got a job at Bob Davidson Ford, my teachers gave me a toolbox, and every day I felt like my dream was getting closer. I applied to Baltimore County College and the honors program, and I was accepted. All of that made me realize that hard work really does change lives. Today, at 16, my next goal is university. I don't plan to give up. I dream of opening my own mechanic shop and building the future my family came here to find. I'm a young man who started from scratch, who has fallen, who has learned, and who is determined to succeed. Thank you for reading my story. Sincerely, Jostin Tenecela