My name is Kayir T. Maples. Living in the inner city, of Jersey City as an African American male made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it. I would be a good recipient of the Scholarship because Importunely it takes money to further and pursue an education in the United States. I would use the money for books. Not just because books are required but because I love books. I prefer physical books over online books because they allow me to highlight important passages that are meaningful to me. I also own a bookshelf that I display my current books on and would love to add my college textbooks to that collection. I am most interested in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering. I have always wanted to work on or with airplanes. Along with my interest in military aircraft, I also have an interest in technology. The love of what makes the aircraft work inside and out. My fascination is to combine the two interests and be surrounded by aircraft but also the ability to be hands on. I had the pleasure of experiencing the Intrepid Museum in New York City. I was able to explore different types of airplanes and even had the pleasure of talking to a Veteran that flew in some of them. My PopPop was an army Veteran. When I was small we would go to Home Depot workshops. There was one workshop I vividly remember because it was Veterans Day weekend, and the project was a helicopter. I was so excited to build and paint my aircraft for my PopPop. Fast forward my PopPop passed away early 2024. Summer 2024 was the first summer my PopPop did not go on vacation with us, but I knew exactly where I wanted to go. My grandma, mom and I went to DC to the Smithsonian Aviation Museum in Washinton, DC. Even though my PopPop was not there I know he was there in spirit because we had the best time as he would have too. Summer 2024 I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were professionals. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events with students just as it was shared with me. Over the course of my career, I want to maintain aircraft, become licensed to fly charters and own a plane.

My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I spent a lot of time with my PopPop. He would walk me to and from school every day. On the weekends my PopPop and I would take field trips on the bus to the park. Freshman year, I picked up the idea that nothing mattered. If I tried everything and still failed, I couldn't find a reason to care. Every time I tried harder it seemed I only got further from my goal, and so I stopped caring about it all. My freshman year and most of Sophomore year, I was convinced that moderation was not worth it. At the end of sophomore year, my frustration had reached its zenith, and I couldn’t care any less about how I felt at the time. The summer after sophomore year is when I began to learn to care. My grandfather fell ill with prostate cancer, and for once I had something other than my frustrations that my mind would focus on without end. Every second I spent at a precollege program I was worried about my grandfather and wondering if he was ok. I made a friend who was a poet who gave me a faint smile, Something I hadn’t truly had in almost two years. In that summer I regained my ability to care but did not understand how to use it, instead, it consumed me. I obsessed over every little thing regarding the people I cared about, and on February 29th, 2024, my grandfather passed away. For the next two weeks, I had test after test, Taking the SAT and struggling to keep my grades right as I was trying to deal with the loss of the person who mattered most to me. My PopPop would not be present for my prom, high school graduation or to see me off to college but guess what? I have the memories of him at every band concert, track meet and swim meet. Summer 2024 I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events with students just as it was shared with me. My PopPop recorded a video for me in the event he passed. It was a short message, “Have fun, enjoy every moment you have.” So, continuing through Junior year and senior year I made a vow to myself. Even if I think it’s all pointless in the end and that life is too short, I’ll enjoy life. Spend time with the people I care about, pursue that lofty dream to become an aeronautical engineer, and just wing it because regret will always hurt more than failure. I now appreciate the little things and the people closest to me. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I spent a lot of time with my PopPop. He would walk me to and from school every day. On the weekends my PopPop and I would take field trips on the bus to the park. Freshman year, I picked up the idea that nothing mattered. If I tried everything and still failed, I couldn't find a reason to care. Every time I tried harder it seemed I only got further from my goal, and so I stopped caring about it all. My freshman year and most of Sophomore year, I was convinced that moderation was not worth it. At the end of sophomore year, my frustration had reached its zenith, and I couldn’t care any less about how I felt at the time. The summer after sophomore year is when I began to learn to care. My grandfather fell ill with prostate cancer, and for once I had something other than my frustrations that my mind would focus on without end. Every second I spent at a precollege program I was worried about my grandfather and wondering if he was ok. I made a friend who was a poet who gave me a faint smile, Something I hadn’t truly had in almost two years. In that summer I regained my ability to care but did not understand how to use it, instead, it consumed me. I obsessed over every little thing regarding the people I cared about, and on February 29th, 2024, my grandfather passed away. For the next two weeks, I had test after test, Taking the SAT and struggling to keep my grades right as I was trying to deal with the loss of the person who mattered most to me. My PopPop would not be present for my prom, high school graduation or to see me off to college but guess what? I have the memories of him at every band concert, track meet and swim meet. Summer 2024 I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events with students just as it was shared with me. My PopPop recorded a video for me in the event he passed. It was a short message, “Have fun, enjoy every moment you have.” So, continuing through Junior year and senior year I made a vow to myself. Even if I think it’s all pointless in the end and that life is too short, I’ll enjoy life. Spend time with the people I care about, pursue that lofty dream to become an aeronautical engineer, and just wing it because regret will always hurt more than failure. I now appreciate the little things and the people closest to me. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

I love math because of the many things it has done for people as a whole. From the Greek Eratosthenes calculating the curvature of the Earth with the shadows of sticks in Syene and Alexandria to the more modern, by comparison, Frank Whittle and Hans von Ohain, all of these things were possible due to math and the models made from that math to achieve these things. I like math because it can not only explain but also show the world around us. From the vibrations of sound and how it propagates through the air to the wavelengths of light and their different interactions with the world. I've always been interested in why things work the way they do growing up, and naturally that led me to math, since the principles behind those things evolved from the field of math, gained more depth, and continue to be a part of math even today. I enjoy aviation and, as such, enjoy physics. Learning fluid dynamics as much as I can without a formal class and find ways to understand Bernoulli's principle through tests of my own and by observing the world around me. Math has always been, and continues to be, something I enjoy and am passionate about.

My name is Kayir T. Maples. Living in the inner city, of Jersey City as an African American male made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it. I would be a good recipient of the Scholarship because Importunely it takes money to further and pursue an education in the United States. I would use the money for books. Not just because books are required but because I love books. I prefer physical books over online books because they allow me to highlight important passages that are meaningful to me. I also own a bookshelf that I display my current books on and would love to add my college textbooks to that collection. I am most interested in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering. I have always wanted to work on or with airplanes. Along with my interest in military aircraft, I also have an interest in technology. The love of what makes the aircraft work inside and out. My fascination is to combine the two interests and be surrounded by aircraft but also the ability to be hands on. I had the pleasure of experiencing the Intrepid Museum in New York City. I was able to explore different types of airplanes and even had the pleasure of talking to a Veteran that flew in some of them. My PopPop was an army Veteran. When I was small we would go to Home Depot workshops. There was one workshop I vividly remember because it was Veterans Day weekend, and the project was a helicopter. I was so excited to build and paint my aircraft for my PopPop. Fast forward my PopPop passed away early 2024. Summer 2024 was the first summer my PopPop did not go on vacation with us, but I knew exactly where I wanted to go. My grandma, mom and I went to DC to the Smithsonian Aviation Museum in Washinton, DC. Even though my PopPop was not there I know he was there in spirit because we had the best time as he would have too. Summer 2024 I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were professionals. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events with students just as it was shared with me. My plan was to major in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace to earn a Bachelor of Engineering and Masters. Currently my major is Physics which will lay the foundation for Engineering. I love planes and plan to be surrounded by aerospace vehicles. Over the course of my career, I want to maintain aircraft, become licensed to fly charters and own a plane.

My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I spent a lot of time with my PopPop. He would walk me to and from school every day. On the weekends my PopPop and I would take field trips on the bus to the park. Freshman year, I picked up the idea that nothing mattered. If I tried everything and still failed, I couldn't find a reason to care. Every time I tried harder it seemed I only got further from my goal, and so I stopped caring about it all. My freshman year and most of Sophomore year, I was convinced that moderation was not worth it. At the end of sophomore year, my frustration had reached its zenith, and I couldn’t care any less about how I felt at the time. The summer after sophomore year is when I began to learn to care. My grandfather fell ill with prostate cancer, and for once I had something other than my frustrations that my mind would focus on without end. Every second I spent at a precollege program I was worried about my grandfather and wondering if he was ok. I made a friend who was a poet who gave me a faint smile, Something I hadn’t truly had in almost two years. In that summer I regained my ability to care but did not understand how to use it, instead, it consumed me. I obsessed over every little thing regarding the people I cared about, and on February 29th, 2024, my grandfather passed away. For the next two weeks, I had test after test, Taking the SAT and struggling to keep my grades right as I was trying to deal with the loss of the person who mattered most to me. My PopPop would not be present for my prom, high school graduation or to see me off to college but guess what? I have the memories of him at every band concert, track meet and swim meet. Summer 2024 I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events with students just as it was shared with me. My PopPop recorded a video for me in the event he passed. It was a short message, “Have fun, enjoy every moment you have.” So, continuing through Junior year and senior year I made a vow to myself. Even if I think it’s all pointless in the end and that life is too short, I’ll enjoy life. Spend time with the people I care about, pursue that lofty dream to become an aeronautical engineer, and just wing it because regret will always hurt more than failure. I now appreciate the little things and the people closest to me. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

Living in the inner city, of Jersey City as an African American male made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it. I have always wanted to work on or with airplanes. Along with my interest in military aircraft, I also have an interest in technology. The love of what makes the aircraft work inside and out. My fascination is to combine the two interests and be surrounded by aircraft but also the ability to be hands on. I have been fascinated with airplanes since I was a little kid. From the time I was a baby, my mom and grandparents would take me every year on a vacation to see my cousins in the South via airplane. I always loved the look of the planes and wondered about the mechanics within the airplane. I had the pleasure of experiencing the Intrepid Museum in New York City. I was able to explore different types of airplanes and even had the pleasure of talking to a Veteran that flew in some of them. My PopPop was an army Veteran. When I was small we would go to Home Depot workshops. There was one workshop I vividly remember because it was Veterans Day weekend, and the project was a helicopter. I was so excited to build and paint my aircraft for my PopPop. Fast forward my PopPop passed away early 2024. Summer 2024 was the first summer my PopPop did not go on vacation with us, but I knew exactly where I wanted to go. My grandma, mom and I went to DC to the Smithsonian Aviation Museum in Washinton, DC. Even though my PopPop was not there I know he was there in spirit because we had the best time as he would have too. My plan was to major in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace to earn a Bachelor of Engineering and Masters. Currently my major is Physics which will lay the foundation for Engineering. I love planes and plan to be surrounded by aerospace vehicles. Over the course of my career, I want to maintain aircraft, become licensed to fly charters and own a plane. Summer 2024 I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were professionals. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events with students just as it was shared with me.

My name is Kayir T. Maples. Living in the inner city, of Jersey City as an African American male made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it. I would be a good recipient of the Scholarship because. Sadly, it takes money to further and pursue an education in the United States. I would use the money for books. Not just because books are required but because I love books. I prefer physical books over online books because they allow me to highlight important passages that are meaningful to me. I also own a bookshelf that I display my current books on and would love to add my college textbooks to that collection. I am most interested in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering. I have always wanted to work on or with airplanes. Along with my interest in military aircraft, I also have an interest in technology. The love of what makes the aircraft work inside and out. My fascination is to combine the two interests and be surrounded by aircraft but also the ability to be hands on. I had the pleasure of experiencing the Intrepid Museum in New York City. I was able to explore different types of airplanes and even had the pleasure of talking to a Veteran that flew in some of them. My PopPop was an army Veteran. When I was small we would go to Home Depot workshops. There was one workshop I vividly remember because it was Veterans Day weekend, and the project was a helicopter. I was so excited to build and paint my aircraft for my PopPop. Fast forward my PopPop passed away early 2024. Summer 2024 was the first summer my PopPop did not go on vacation with us, but I knew exactly where I wanted to go. My grandma, mom and I went to DC to the Smithsonian Aviation Museum in Washinton, DC. Even though my PopPop was not there I know he was there in spirit because we had the best time as he would have too. Summer 2024 I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were professionals. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events with students just as it was shared with me. My plan was to major in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace to earn a Bachelor of Engineering and Masters. Currently my major is Physics which will lay the foundation for Engineering. I love planes and plan to be surrounded by aerospace vehicles. Over the course of my career, I want to maintain aircraft, become licensed to fly charters and own a plane.

My name is Kayir T. Maples. Living in the inner city, of Jersey City as an African American male made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. I would be the perfect recipient of the Scholarship because unfortunately it takes money to further and pursue an education in the United States. I would use the money for books. Not just because books are required but because I love books. I prefer physical books over online books because they allow me to highlight important passages that are meaningful to me. I also own a bookshelf that I display my current books on and would love to add my college textbooks to that collection. I am most interested in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering. I have always wanted to work on or with airplanes. Along with my interest in military aircraft, I also have an interest in technology. The love of what makes the aircraft work inside and out. My fascination is to combine the two interests and be surrounded by aircraft but also the ability to be hands on. The summer before high school I participated in summer swim club at a local YMCA. Once the world re-opened, I entered high school at the age of 14. During the winter I joined the swim team, but the season was short. Being on the swim team takes a lot of endurance. 6am practices at the neighboring school then transport to my school for classes but its so worth it. This experience taught me if there is a will there is a way and I had found that way. In High school I was on the swim team, track team and band as a tuba player. Swim and track work hand in hand because even though you are swimming and racing against others…the goal is to be better than you were the last time I swam or ran. I always strive to beat my PR (personal record). I love to be physically active and challenge myself and these two sports have achieved that for me. The band gave me an appreciation for music as well as lung endurance which allowed me greater performance in swim and track. My sports journey didn’t stop there. My swim coach encouraged me to join track during the off season. I was encouraged to join for long jump but the more I attended practices the more involved I became. What started as only running 100m has evolved to running the 100m, 200m and long jump. I swim in the winter season and run track in the spring. I’m always the one on the side of the track screaming to my teammates that “we can do this”. I know track is based on individual times however it feels a whole lot better when you have someone in your corner and that person hyping up the team is me. Freshman year, I picked up the idea that nothing mattered. If I tried everything and still failed, I couldn't find a reason to care. Every time I tried harder it seemed I only got further from my goal, and so I stopped caring about it all. My freshman year and most of Sophomore year, I was convinced that moderation was not worth it. At the end of sophomore year, my frustration had reached its zenith, and I couldn’t care any less about how I felt at the time. The summer after sophomore year is when I began to learn to care. My grandfather fell ill with prostate cancer, and for once I had something other than my frustrations that my mind would focus on without end. Every second I spent at a precollege program I was worried about my grandfather and wondering if he was ok. I made a friend who was a poet who gave me a faint smile, Something I hadn’t truly had in almost two years. In that summer I regained my ability to care but did not understand how to use it, instead, it consumed me. I obsessed over every little thing regarding the people I cared about, and on February 29th, 2024, my grandfather passed away. For the next two weeks, I had test after test, Taking the SAT and struggling to keep my grades right as I was trying to deal with the loss of the person who mattered most to me. My PopPop would not be present for my prom, high school graduation or to see me off to college but guess what? I have the memories of him at every band concert, track meet and swim meet. Summer 2024 I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events with students just as it was shared with me. I now appreciate the little things and the people closest to me. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even when you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I spent a lot of time with my PopPop. He would walk me to and from school every day. On the weekends my PopPop and I would take field trips on the bus to the park. Freshman year, I picked up the idea that nothing mattered. If I tried everything and still failed, I couldn't find a reason to care. Every time I tried harder it seemed I only got further from my goal, and so I stopped caring about it all. My freshman year and most of Sophomore year, I was convinced that moderation was not worth it. At the end of sophomore year, my frustration had reached its zenith, and I couldn’t care any less about how I felt at the time. The summer after sophomore year is when I began to learn to care. My grandfather fell ill with prostate cancer, and for once I had something other than my frustrations that my mind would focus on without end. Every second I spent at a precollege program I was worried about my grandfather and wondering if he was ok. I made a friend who was a poet who gave me a faint smile, Something I hadn’t truly had in almost two years. In that summer I regained my ability to care but did not understand how to use it, instead, it consumed me. I obsessed over every little thing regarding the people I cared about, and on February 29th, 2024, my grandfather passed away. For the next two weeks, I had test after test, Taking the SAT and struggling to keep my grades right as I was trying to deal with the loss of the person who mattered most to me. My PopPop would not be present for my prom, high school graduation or to see me off to college but guess what? I have the memories of him at every band concert, track meet and swim meet. Summer 2024 I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events with students just as it was shared with me. My PopPop recorded a video for me in the event he passed. It was a short message, “Have fun, enjoy every moment you have.” So, continuing through Junior year and senior year I made a vow to myself. Even if I think it’s all pointless in the end and that life is too short, I’ll enjoy life. Spend time with the people I care about, pursue that lofty dream to become an aeronautical engineer, and just wing it because regret will always hurt more than failure. I now appreciate the little things and the people closest to me. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I spent a lot of time with my PopPop. He would walk me to and from school every day. On the weekends my PopPop and I would take field trips on the bus to the park. Freshman year, I picked up the idea that nothing mattered. If I tried everything and still failed, I couldn't find a reason to care. Every time I tried harder it seemed I only got further from my goal, and so I stopped caring about it all. My freshman year and most of Sophomore year, I was convinced that moderation was not worth it. At the end of sophomore year, my frustration had reached its zenith, and I couldn’t care any less about how I felt at the time. The summer after sophomore year is when I began to learn to care. My grandfather fell ill with prostate cancer, and for once I had something other than my frustrations that my mind would focus on without end. Every second I spent at a precollege program I was worried about my grandfather and wondering if he was ok. I made a friend who was a poet who gave me a faint smile, Something I hadn’t truly had in almost two years. In that summer I regained my ability to care but did not understand how to use it, instead, it consumed me. I obsessed over every little thing regarding the people I cared about, and on February 29th, 2024, my grandfather passed away. For the next two weeks, I had test after test, Taking the SAT and struggling to keep my grades right as I was trying to deal with the loss of the person who mattered most to me. My PopPop would not be present for my prom, high school graduation or to see me off to college but guess what? I have the memories of him at every band concert, track meet and swim meet. Summer 2024 I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events with students just as it was shared with me. My PopPop recorded a video for me in the event he passed. It was a short message, “Have fun, enjoy every moment you have.” So, continuing through Junior year and senior year I made a vow to myself. Even if I think it’s all pointless in the end and that life is too short, I’ll enjoy life. Spend time with the people I care about, pursue that lofty dream to become an aeronautical engineer, and just wing it because regret will always hurt more than failure. I now appreciate the little things and the people closest to me. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

Living in the inner city, of Jersey City as an African American male made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it. I have always wanted to work on or with airplanes. Along with my interest in military aircraft, I also have an interest in technology. The love of what makes the aircraft work inside and out. My fascination is to combine the two interests and be surrounded by aircraft but also the ability to be hands on. I have been fascinated with airplanes since I was a little kid. From the time I was a baby, my mom and grandparents would take me every year on a vacation to see my cousins in the South via airplane. I always loved the look of the planes and wondered about the mechanics within the airplane. I had the pleasure of experiencing the Intrepid Museum in New York City. I was able to explore different types of airplanes and even had the pleasure of talking to a Veteran that flew in some of them. My PopPop was an army Veteran. When I was small, we would go to Home Depot workshops. There was one workshop I vividly remember because it was Veterans Day weekend, and the project was a helicopter. I was so excited to build and paint my aircraft for my PopPop. Fast forward my PopPop passed away early 2024. Summer 2024 was the first summer my PopPop did not go on vacation with us, but I knew exactly where I wanted to go. My grandma, mom and I went to DC to the Smithsonian Aviation Museum in Washinton, DC. Even though my PopPop was not there I know he was there in spirit because we had the best time as he would have too. My plan was to major in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace to earn a Bachelor of Engineering and Masters. Currently my major is Physics which will lay the foundation for Engineering. I love planes and plan to be surrounded by aerospace vehicles. Over the course of my career, I want to maintain aircraft, become licensed to fly charters and own a plane. Summer 2024 I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were professionals. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events with students just as it was shared with me.

I grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey with my mom and the influences of my grandparents. I can truly say my mom and grandparents did a great job of sheltering me from the chaos of the city because I didn’t know the area was considered “not so great” because it was my home. My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I spent most times with my PopPop. Daily we walked to school. On the weekends my PopPop and I took trips on the bus to the park. I always wondered why we couldn’t just go to the park that was closest to the house. He told me the park we were going to was special. Once I got to middle school, I realized older kids and adults hung out at the closer park partaking in activities that were on the illegal side of nature and my PopPop was sheltering me from that. Freshman year things changed. If I tried everything and still failed, I couldn't find a reason to care. Every time I tried harder it seemed I only got further from my goal, and so I stopped caring about it all. My freshman year and most of Sophomore year, I was convinced that moderation was not worth it. At the end of sophomore year, my frustration had reached its zenith, and I couldn’t care less about how I felt at the time. The summer after sophomore year is when I began to learn to care again. My PopPop fell ill with prostate cancer, and for once I had something other than my own frustrations. Every second I spent at a precollege program I was worried about my PopPop and wondering if he was ok. I made a friend who was a poet who gave me a faint smile, Something I hadn’t truly had in almost two years. In that summer I regained my ability to care but did not understand how to use it, instead, it consumed me. I obsessed over every little thing regarding the people I cared about, and on February 29th, 2024, my PopPop passed away. For the next two weeks, I had test after test, taking the SAT and struggling to keep my grades right as I was trying to deal with the loss of the person who mattered most to me. My PopPop would not be present for my prom, high school graduation or to see me off to college but guess what? I have the memories of him at every band concert, track meet and swim meet. My PopPop recorded a video for me in the event he passed. It was a short message, “Have fun, enjoy every moment you have.” So, continuing through Junior year and senior year I made a vow to myself. Even if I think it’s all pointless in the end and that life is too short, I’ll enjoy life. Spend time with the people I care about, pursue that lofty dream to become an aeronautical engineer, and just wing it because regret will always hurt more than failure. I now appreciate the little things and the people closest to me. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

Growing up in the inner city as an African American male was quite an experience for me. I grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. I can truly say my mom and grandparents did a great job of sheltering me from the chaos of the city because I didn’t know the area was considered “not so great” because it was my home. The statistics alone are not the best. The odds are against me as soon as I wake up in the morning. Jersey City has a population of almost 300,000 people. The crime rate is higher than 73% of the state’s cities and towns of all sizes. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime is 1 in 65. There are 39 public schools. Many of the schools are ranked below average. Overall, the high schools rank five out of ten which ranks in the bottom 50% of New Jersey public high schools. Schools are underfunded and teachers are underpaid and overworked. As a kid I thought my city was normal. My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I was left with my PopPop. Before school my PopPop would sweep in front of his front door. What I learned later was he had to sweep every day because every night someone would throw garbage in front of the door. He would walk me to and from school every day. Every day we would pass people on the streets, and we would always say hello. And like clockwork the same people were there the next day. What I didn’t know was some of those people were homeless, or just hanging out because they had nothing else to do. On the weekends my PopPop and I would take field trips on the bus to the park. I always wondered why we couldn’t just go to the park that was closest to the house. He told me the park we were going to was special. Once I got to middle school, I realized older kids and adults hung out at the closer park partaking in activities that were on the illegal side of nature and my PopPop was sheltering me from that. When I meet people and tell them I am from Jersey City immediately they think I should talk a certain way, that I am uneducated or that I am affiliated with certain groups of people. But guess what? In second grade my teacher noticed I was an exceptional student and advised my mom to have me tested for the HOPE program and I passed. Third grade to fifth grade I was a part of the HOPE gifted and talented program. In 6th grade I was accepted into Academy 1 Middle school which is in the top 5% of New Jersey. Now I will be graduating from McNair High School which is the #1 high school in Jersey City and the #5 school in the state of New Jersey. So, despite what some may think, excellent kids do evolve from Jersey City. Living in the inner city made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

Who in your life has supported you in your educational journey and how do you honor them as you strive toward your dreams? How has their support shaped you and driven you to be successful? How will you build on their support as you work to succeed in your goals? Why has this support been instrumental to you as a child who has lost a parent or grown up in a single- parent household? Growing up in the inner city as an African American male was quite an experience for me. I grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey with my mom and the influences of my grandparents. I can truly say my mom and grandparents did a great job of sheltering me from the chaos of the city because I didn’t know the area was considered “not so great” because it was my home. My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I spent a lot of time with my PopPop. He would walk me to and from school every day. On the weekends my PopPop and I would take field trips on the bus to the park. I always wondered why we couldn’t just go to the park that was closest to the house. He told me the park we were going to was special. Once I got to middle school, I realized older kids and adults hung out at the closer park partaking in activities that were on the illegal side of nature and my PopPop was sheltering me from that. Freshman year, I picked up the idea that nothing mattered. If I tried everything and still failed, I couldn't find a reason to care. Every time I tried harder it seemed I only got further from my goal, and so I stopped caring about it all. My freshman year and most of Sophomore year, I was convinced that moderation was not worth it. At the end of sophomore year, my frustration had reached its zenith, and I couldn’t care any less about how I felt at the time. The summer after sophomore year is when I began to learn to care. My grandfather fell ill with prostate cancer, and for once I had something other than my frustrations that my mind would focus on without end. Every second I spent at a precollege program I was worried about my grandfather and wondering if he was ok. I made a friend who was a poet who gave me a faint smile, Something I hadn’t truly had in almost two years. In that summer I regained my ability to care but did not understand how to use it, instead, it consumed me. I obsessed over every little thing regarding the people I cared about, and on February 29th, 2024, my grandfather passed away. For the next two weeks, I had test after test, Taking the SAT and struggling to keep my grades right as I was trying to deal with the loss of the person who mattered most to me. My PopPop would not be present for my prom, high school graduation or to see me off to college but guess what? I have the memories of him at every band concert, track meet and swim meet. My PopPop recorded a video for me in the event he passed. It was a short message, “Have fun, enjoy every moment you have.” So, continuing through Junior year and senior year I made a vow to myself. Even if I think it’s all pointless in the end and that life is too short, I’ll enjoy life. Spend time with the people I care about, pursue that lofty dream to become an aeronautical engineer, and just wing it because regret will always hurt more than failure. I now appreciate the little things and the people closest to me. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

Growing up in the inner city as an African American male was quite an experience for me. I grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey with my mom and the influences of my grandparents. I can truly say my mom and grandparents did a great job of sheltering me from the chaos of the city because I didn’t know the area was considered “not so great” because it was my home. My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I spent a lot of time with my PopPop. He would walk me to and from school every day. On the weekends my PopPop and I would take field trips on the bus to the park. I always wondered why we couldn’t just go to the park that was closest to the house. He told me the park we were going to was special. Once I got to middle school, I realized older kids and adults hung out at the closer park partaking in activities that were on the illegal side of nature and my PopPop was sheltering me from that. Freshman year, I picked up the idea that nothing mattered. If I tried everything and still failed, I couldn't find a reason to care. Every time I tried harder it seemed I only got further from my goal, and so I stopped caring about it all. My freshman year and most of Sophomore year, I was convinced that moderation was not worth it. At the end of sophomore year, my frustration had reached its zenith, and I couldn’t care any less about how I felt at the time. The summer after sophomore year is when I began to learn to care. My grandfather fell ill with prostate cancer, and for once I had something other than my frustrations that my mind would focus on without end. Every second I spent at a precollege program I was worried about my grandfather and wondering if he was ok. I made a friend who was a poet who gave me a faint smile, Something I hadn’t truly had in almost two years. In that summer I regained my ability to care but did not understand how to use it, instead, it consumed me. I obsessed over every little thing regarding the people I cared about, and on February 29th, 2024, my grandfather passed away. For the next two weeks, I had test after test, Taking the SAT and struggling to keep my grades right as I was trying to deal with the loss of the person who mattered most to me. My grandfather recorded a video for me in the event he passed. It was a short message, “Have fun, enjoy every moment you have.” So, continuing through Junior year and senior year I made a vow to myself. Even if I think it’s all pointless in the end and that life is too short, I’ll enjoy life. Spend time with the people I care about, pursue that lofty dream to become an aeronautical engineer, and just wing it because regret will always hurt more than failure. I now appreciate the little things and the people closest to me. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

Living in the inner city, of Jersey City as an African American male made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it. I have always wanted to work on or with airplanes. Along with my interest in military aircraft, I also have an interest in technology. The love of what makes the aircraft work inside and out. My fascination is to combine the two interests and be surrounded by aircraft but also the ability to be hands on. I have been fascinated with airplanes since I was a little kid. From the time I was a baby, my mom and grandparents would take me every year on a vacation to see my cousins in the South via airplane. I always loved the look of the planes and wondered about the mechanics within the airplane. I had the pleasure of experiencing the Intrepid Museum in New York City. I was able to explore different types of airplanes and even had the pleasure of talking to a Veteran that flew in some of them. My PopPop was an army Veteran. When I was small we would go to Home Depot workshops. There was one workshop I vividly remember because it was Veterans Day weekend, and the project was a helicopter. I was so excited to build and paint my aircraft for my PopPop. Fast forward my PopPop passed away early 2024. Summer 2024 was the first summer my PopPop did not go on vacation with us, but I knew exactly where I wanted to go. My grandma, mom and I went to DC to the Smithsonian Aviation Museum in Washinton, DC. Even though my PopPop was not there I know he was there in spirit because we had the best time as he would have too. My plan was to major in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace to earn a Bachelor of Engineering and Masters. Currently my major is Physics which will lay the foundation for Engineering. I love planes and plan to be surrounded by aerospace vehicles. Over the course of my career, I want to maintain aircraft, become licensed to fly charters and own a plane. Summer 2024 I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were professionals. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events with students just as it was shared with me.

Growing up in the inner city as an African American male was quite an experience for me. I grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey with my mom and the influences of my grandparents. I can truly say my mom and grandparents did a great job of sheltering me from the chaos of the city because I didn’t know the area was considered “not so great” because it was my home. My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I spent a lot of time with my PopPop. He would walk me to and from school every day. On the weekends my PopPop and I would take field trips on the bus to the park. I always wondered why we couldn’t just go to the park that was closest to the house. He told me the park we were going to was special. Once I got to middle school, I realized older kids and adults hung out at the closer park partaking in activities that were on the illegal side of nature and my PopPop was sheltering me from that. Freshman year, I picked up the idea that nothing mattered. If I tried everything and still failed, I couldn't find a reason to care. Every time I tried harder it seemed I only got further from my goal, and so I stopped caring about it all. My freshman year and most of Sophomore year, I was convinced that moderation was not worth it. At the end of sophomore year, my frustration had reached its zenith, and I couldn’t care any less about how I felt at the time. The summer after sophomore year is when I began to learn to care. My grandfather fell ill with prostate cancer, and for once I had something other than my frustrations that my mind would focus on without end. Every second I spent at a precollege program I was worried about my grandfather and wondering if he was ok. I made a friend who was a poet who gave me a faint smile, Something I hadn’t truly had in almost two years. In that summer I regained my ability to care but did not understand how to use it, instead, it consumed me. I obsessed over every little thing regarding the people I cared about, and on February 29th, 2024, my grandfather passed away. For the next two weeks, I had test after test, Taking the SAT and struggling to keep my grades right as I was trying to deal with the loss of the person who mattered most to me. My grandfather recorded a video for me in the event he passed. It was a short message, “Have fun, enjoy every moment you have.” So, continuing through Junior year and senior year I made a vow to myself. Even if I think it’s all pointless in the end and that life is too short, I’ll enjoy life. Spend time with the people I care about, pursue that lofty dream to become an aeronautical engineer, and just wing it because regret will always hurt more than failure. I now appreciate the little things and the people closest to me. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

Living in the inner city, of Jersey City as an African American male made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it. I have always wanted to work on or with airplanes. Along with my interest in military aircraft, I also have an interest in technology. The love of what makes the aircraft work inside and out. My fascination is to combine the two interests and be surrounded by aircraft but also the ability to be hands on. I have been fascinated with airplanes since I was a little kid. From the time I was a baby, my mom and grandparents would take me every year on a vacation to see my cousins in the South via airplane. I always loved the look of the planes and wondered about the mechanics within the airplane. I had the pleasure of experiencing the Intrepid Museum in New York City. I was able to explore different types of airplanes and even had the pleasure of talking to a Veteran that flew in some of them. My PopPop was an army Veteran. When I was small we would go to Home Depot workshops. There was one workshop I vividly remember because it was Veterans Day weekend, and the project was a helicopter. I was so excited to build and paint my aircraft for my PopPop. Fast forward my PopPop passed away early 2024. Summer 2024 was the first summer my PopPop did not go on vacation with us, but I knew exactly where I wanted to go. My grandma, mom and I went to DC to the Smithsonian Aviation Museum in Washinton, DC. Even though my PopPop was not there I know he was there in spirit because we had the best time as he would have too. My plan was to major in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace to earn a Bachelor of Engineering and Masters. Currently my major is Physics which will lay the foundation for Engineering. I love planes and plan to be surrounded by aerospace vehicles. Over the course of my career, I want to maintain aircraft, become licensed to fly charters and own a plane. Summer 2024 I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were professionals. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events with students just as it was shared with me.

Living in the inner city, of Jersey City as an African American male made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it. I have always wanted to work on or with airplanes. Along with my interest in military aircraft, I also have an interest in technology. The love of what makes the aircraft work inside and out. My fascination is to combine the two interests and be surrounded by aircraft but also the ability to be hands on. I have been fascinated with airplanes since I was a little kid. From the time I was a baby, my mom and grandparents would take me every year on a vacation to see my cousins in the South via airplane. I always loved the look of the planes and wondered about the mechanics within the airplane. I had the pleasure of experiencing the Intrepid Museum in New York City. I was able to explore different types of airplanes and even had the pleasure of talking to a Veteran that flew in some of them. My PopPop was an army Veteran. When I was small we would go to Home Depot workshops. There was one workshop I vividly remember because it was Veterans Day weekend, and the project was a helicopter. I was so excited to build and paint my aircraft for my PopPop. Fast forward my PopPop passed away early 2024. Summer 2024 was the first summer my PopPop did not go on vacation with us, but I knew exactly where I wanted to go. My grandma, mom and I went to DC to the Smithsonian Aviation Museum in Washinton, DC. Even though my PopPop was not there I know he was there in spirit because we had the best time as he would have too. My plan was to major in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace to earn a Bachelor of Engineering and Masters. Currently my major is Physics which will lay the foundation for Engineering. I love planes and plan to be surrounded by aerospace vehicles. Over the course of my career, I want to maintain aircraft, become licensed to fly charters and own a plane. Summer 2024 I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were professionals. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events with students just as it was shared with me.

Living in the inner city, of Jersey City as an African American male made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it. I have always wanted to work on or with airplanes. Along with my interest in military aircraft, I also have an interest in technology. The love of what makes the aircraft work inside and out. My fascination is to combine the two interests and be surrounded by aircraft but also the ability to be hands on. I have been fascinated with airplanes since I was a little kid. From the time I was a baby, my mom and grandparents would take me every year on a vacation to see my cousins in the South via airplane. I always loved the look of the planes and wondered about the mechanics within the airplane. I had the pleasure of experiencing the Intrepid Museum in New York City. I was able to explore different types of airplanes and even had the pleasure of talking to a Veteran that flew in some of them. My PopPop was an army Veteran. When I was small we would go to Home Depot workshops. There was one workshop I vividly remember because it was Veterans Day weekend, and the project was a helicopter. I was so excited to build and paint my aircraft for my PopPop. Fast forward my PopPop passed away early 2024. Summer 2024 was the first summer my PopPop did not go on vacation with us, but I knew exactly where I wanted to go. My grandma, mom and I went to DC to the Smithsonian Aviation Museum in Washinton, DC. Even though my PopPop was not there I know he was there in spirit because we had the best time as he would have too. My plan was to major in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace to earn a Bachelor of Engineering and Masters. Currently my major is Physics which will lay the foundation for Engineering. I love planes and plan to be surrounded by aerospace vehicles. Over the course of my career, I want to maintain aircraft, become licensed to fly charters and own a plane. Summer 2024 I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were professionals. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events with students just as it was shared with me.

Growing up in the inner city as an African American male was quite an experience for me. I grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey with my mom and the influences of my grandparents. I can truly say my mom and grandparents did a great job of sheltering me from the chaos of the city because I didn’t know the area was considered “not so great” because it was my home. My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I spent a lot of time with my PopPop. He would walk me to and from school every day. On the weekends my PopPop and I would take field trips on the bus to the park. I always wondered why we couldn’t just go to the park that was closest to the house. He told me the park we were going to was special. Once I got to middle school, I realized older kids and adults hung out at the closer park partaking in activities that were on the illegal side of nature and my PopPop was sheltering me from that. Freshman year, I picked up the idea that nothing mattered. If I tried everything and still failed, I couldn't find a reason to care. Every time I tried harder it seemed I only got further from my goal, and so I stopped caring about it all. My freshman year and most of Sophomore year, I was convinced that moderation was not worth it. At the end of sophomore year, my frustration had reached its zenith, and I couldn’t care any less about how I felt at the time. The summer after sophomore year is when I began to learn to care. My grandfather fell ill with prostate cancer, and for once I had something other than my frustrations that my mind would focus on without end. Every second I spent at a precollege program I was worried about my grandfather and wondering if he was ok. I made a friend who was a poet who gave me a faint smile, Something I hadn’t truly had in almost two years. In that summer I regained my ability to care but did not understand how to use it, instead, it consumed me. I obsessed over every little thing regarding the people I cared about, and on February 29th, 2024, my grandfather passed away. For the next two weeks, I had test after test, Taking the SAT and struggling to keep my grades right as I was trying to deal with the loss of the person who mattered most to me. My grandfather recorded a video for me in the event he passed. It was a short message, “Have fun, enjoy every moment you have.” So, continuing through Junior year and senior year I made a vow to myself. Even if I think it’s all pointless in the end and that life is too short, I’ll enjoy life. Spend time with the people I care about, pursue that lofty dream to become an aeronautical engineer, and just wing it because regret will always hurt more than failure. I now appreciate the little things and the people closest to me. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

Living in the inner city, of Jersey City as an African American male made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it. I have always wanted to work on or with airplanes. Along with my interest in military aircraft, I also have an interest in technology. The love of what makes the aircraft work inside and out. My fascination is to combine the two interests and be surrounded by aircraft but also the ability to be hands on. I have been fascinated with airplanes since I was a little kid. From the time I was a baby, my mom and grandparents would take me every year on a vacation to see my cousins in the South via airplane. I always loved the look of the planes and wondered about the mechanics within the airplane. I had the pleasure of experiencing the Intrepid Museum in New York City. I was able to explore different types of airplanes and even had the pleasure of talking to a Veteran that flew in some of them. My PopPop was an army Veteran. When I was small we would go to Home Depot workshops. There was one workshop I vividly remember because it was Veterans Day weekend, and the project was a helicopter. I was so excited to build and paint my aircraft for my PopPop. Fast forward my PopPop passed away early 2024. Summer 2024 was the first summer my PopPop did not go on vacation with us, but I knew exactly where I wanted to go. My grandma, mom and I went to DC to the Smithsonian Aviation Museum in Washinton, DC. Even though my PopPop was not there I know he was there in spirit because we had the best time as he would have too. My plan was to major in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace to earn a Bachelor of Engineering and Masters. Currently my major is Physics which will lay the foundation for Engineering. I love planes and plan to be surrounded by aerospace vehicles. Over the course of my career, I want to maintain aircraft, become licensed to fly charters and own a plane. Summer 2024 I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were professionals. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events with students just as it was shared with me.

My focus was always on the goal, the final grade. I often looked at the result and would curse my inability to do better. I possessed the musculature and flexibility to perform better in sports, so why was my time mediocre? I understood the lesson, so why did I barely pass the test? Throughout my first three years in high school, I picked apart every mistake that I made to understand why my goals seemed so far away. I swam in clubs and with my school into junior year, while also doing track from sophomore year to senior year. I always rewatched my events, picking apart every inconsistency in my form. I always looked for ways to improve, from recalling the flexing of my muscles to the tempo of my breathing. Nothing was beyond my analysis. This over-analytical nature carried over into my academics. It was something I carried through my high school years. I found some level of solace in physics and engineering, Understanding the principles of how the world worked was my structure within a world where everything had some minor issues that bothered me. Freshman year, I picked up the idea that nothing mattered. If I tried everything and still failed, I couldn't find a reason to care. Every time I tried harder it seemed I only got further from my goal, and so I stopped caring about it all. My freshman year and most of Sophomore year, I was convinced that moderation was not worth it. I worked out and always pushed my body as hard as possible. I corrected every mistake in swimming and track but barely made progress while even suffering from tendonitis in track. I would sleep less to take more time to train, actively ignoring the pain in my body to continue sets for longer, all to make progress that I could never see. At the end of sophomore year, my frustration had reached its zenith, and I couldn’t care any less about how I felt at the time. I tunnel-visioned on becoming stronger in some way that would be noticeable. The summer after sophomore year is when I began to learn to care. My grandfather fell ill with prostate cancer, and for once I had something other than my frustrations that my mind would focus on without end. Every second I spent at a precollege program I was worried about my grandfather and wondering if he was ok. I made a friend who was a poet who gave me a faint smile, Something I hadn’t truly had in almost two years. In that summer I regained my ability to care but did not understand how to use it, instead, it consumed me. I obsessed over every little thing regarding the people I cared about, and on February 29th, 2024, my grandfather passed away. For the next two weeks, I had test after test, Taking the SAT and struggling to keep my grades right as I was trying to deal with the loss of the person who mattered most to me. My grandfather recorded a video for me in the event he passed. It was a short message, “Have fun, enjoy every moment you have.” So, continuing through Junior year and senior year I made a vow to myself. Even if I think it’s all pointless in the end and that life is too short, I’ll enjoy life. Spend time with the people I care about, pursue that lofty dream to become an aeronautical engineer, and just wing it because regret will always hurt more than failure.

Growing up in the inner city as an African American male was quite an experience for me. I grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. I can truly say my mom and grandparents did a great job of sheltering me from the chaos of the city because I didn’t know the area was considered “not so great” because it was my home. The statistics alone are not the best. The odds are against me as soon as I wake up in the morning. Jersey City has a population of almost 300,000 people. The crime rate is higher than 73% of the state’s cities and towns of all sizes. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime is 1 in 65. There are 39 public schools. Many the schools are ranked below average. Overall, the high schools rank five out of ten which ranks in the bottom 50% of New Jersey public high schools. Schools are underfunded and teachers are underpaid and overworked. As a kid I thought my city was normal. My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I was left with my Pop Pop. Before school my Pop Pop would sweep in front of his front door. What I learned later was he had to sweep every day because every night someone would throw garbage in front of the door. He would walk me to and from school every day. Everyday we would pass people on the streets, and we would always say hello. And like clockwork the same people were there the next day. What I didn’t know was some of those people were homeless, or just hanging out because they had nothing else to do. On the weekends my Pop Pop and I would take field trips on the bus to the park. I always wondered why we couldn’t just go to the park that was closest to the house. He told me the park we were going to was special. Once I got to middle school, I realized older kids and adults hung out at the closer park partaking in activities that were on the illegal side of nature and my Pop Pop was sheltering me from that. When I meet people and tell them I am from Jersey City immediately they think I should talk a certain way, that I am uneducated or that I am affiliated with certain groups of people. But guess what? In second grade my teacher noticed I was an exceptional student and advised my mom to have me tested for the HOPE program and I passed. Third grade to fifth grade I was a part of the HOPE gifted and talented program. In 6th grade I was accepted into Academy 1 Middle school which is in the top 5% of New Jersey. Now I will be graduating from McNair High School which is the #1 high school in Jersey City and the #5 school in the state of New Jersey. So, despite what some may think, excellent kids do evolve from Jersey City. Living in the inner city made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

Living in the inner city, of Jersey City as an African American male made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it. I have always wanted to work on or with airplanes. Along with my interest in military aircraft, I also have an interest in technology. The love of what makes the aircraft work inside and out. My fascination is to combine the two interests and be surrounded by aircraft but also the ability to be hands on. I have been fascinated with airplanes since I was a little kid. From the time I was a baby, my mom and grandparents would take me every year on a vacation to see my cousins in the South via airplane. I always loved the look of the planes and wondered about the mechanics within the airplane. I had the pleasure of experiencing the Intrepid Museum in New York City. I was able to explore different types of airplanes and even had the pleasure of talking to a Veteran that flew in some of them. My PopPop was an army Veteran. When I was small my mom used to take me to Home Depot workshops. There was one workshop I vividly remember because it was Veterans Day weekend, and the project was a helicopter. I was so excited to build and paint my aircraft for my PopPop. Fast forward my PopPop passed away early 2024. Summer 2024 was the first summer my PopPop did not go on vacation with us, but I knew exactly where I wanted to go. My grandma, mom and I went to DC to the Smithsonian Aviation Museum in Washinton, DC. Even though my PopPop was not there I know he was there in spirit because we had the best time as he would have too. My plan was to major in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace to earn a Bachelor of Engineering and Masters. Currently my major is Physics which will lay the foundation for Engineering. I love planes and plan to be surrounded by aerospace vehicles. Over the course of my career, I want to maintain aircraft, become licensed to fly charters and own a plane. Summer 2024 I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were professionals. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events with students just as it was shared with me.

Living in the inner city, of Jersey City as an African American male made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it. I have always wanted to work on or with airplanes. Along with my interest in military aircraft, I also have an interest in technology. The love of what makes the aircraft work inside and out. My fascination is to combine the two interests and be surrounded by aircraft but also the ability to be hands on. I have been fascinated with airplanes since I was a little kid. From the time I was a baby, my mom and grandparents would take me every year on a vacation to see my cousins in the South via airplane. I always loved the look of the planes and wondered about the mechanics within the airplane. I had the pleasure of experiencing the Intrepid Museum in New York City. I was able to explore different types of airplanes and even had the pleasure of talking to a Veteran that flew in some of them. My PopPop was an army Veteran. When I was small my mom used to take me to Home Depot workshops. There was one workshop I vividly remember because it was Veterans Day weekend, and the project was a helicopter. I was so excited to build and paint my aircraft for my PopPop. Fast forward my PopPop passed away early 2024. Summer 2024 was the first summer my PopPop did not go on vacation with us, but I knew exactly where I wanted to go. My grandma, mom and I went to DC to the Smithsonian Aviation Museum in Washinton, DC. Even though my PopPop was not there I know he was there in spirit because we had the best time as he would have too. My plan was to major in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace to earn a Bachelor of Engineering and Masters. Currently my major is Physics which will lay the foundation for Engineering. I love planes and plan to be surrounded by aerospace vehicles. Over the course of my career, I want to maintain aircraft, become licensed to fly charters and own a plane. Summer 2024 I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were professionals. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events with students just as it was shared with me.

Living in the inner city, of Jersey City as an African American male made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it. I have always wanted to work on or with airplanes. Along with my interest in military aircraft, I also have an interest in technology. The love of what makes the aircraft work inside and out. My fascination is to combine the two interests and be surrounded by aircraft but also the ability to be hands on. I have been fascinated with airplanes since I was a little kid. From the time I was a baby, my mom and grandparents would take me every year on a vacation to see my cousins in the South via airplane. I always loved the look of the planes and wondered about the mechanics within the airplane. I had the pleasure of experiencing the Intrepid Museum in New York City. I was able to explore different types of airplanes and even had the pleasure of talking to a Veteran that flew in some of them. My PopPop was an army Veteran. When I was small my mom used to take me to Home Depot workshops. There was one workshop I vividly remember because it was Veterans Day weekend, and the project was a helicopter. I was so excited to build and paint my aircraft for my PopPop. Fast forward my PopPop passed away early 2024. Summer 2024 was the first summer my PopPop did not go on vacation with us, but I knew exactly where I wanted to go. My grandma, mom and I went to DC to the Smithsonian Aviation Museum in Washinton, DC. Even though my PopPop was not there I know he was there in spirit because we had the best time as he would have too. My plan was to major in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace to earn a Bachelor of Engineering and Masters. Currently my major is Physics which will lay the foundation for Engineering. I love planes and plan to be surrounded by aerospace vehicles. Over the course of my career, I want to maintain aircraft, become licensed to fly charters and own a plane. Summer 2024 I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were professionals. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events with students just as it was shared with me.

Growing up in the inner city was quite an experience for me. I grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. I can truly say my mom and grandparents did a great job of sheltering me from the chaos of the city because I didn’t know the area was considered “not so great” because it was my home. As a kid I thought my city was normal. My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I was left with my Pop Pop. Before school my Pop Pop would sweep in front of his front door. What I learned later was he had to sweep every day because every night someone would throw garbage in front of the door. He would walk me to and from school every day. Everyday we would pass people on the streets, and we would always say hello. And like clockwork the same people were there the next day. What I didn’t know was some of those people were homeless, or just hanging out because they had nothing else to do. On the weekends my Pop Pop and I would take field trips on the bus to the park. I always wondered why we couldn’t just go to the park that was closest to the house. He told me the park we were going to was special. Once I got to middle school, I realized older kids and adults hung out at the closer park partaking in activities that were on the illegal side of nature and my Pop Pop was sheltering me from that. When I meet people and tell them I am from Jersey City immediately they think I should talk a certain way, that I am uneducated or that I am affiliated with certain groups of people. But guess what? In second grade my teacher noticed I was an exceptional student and advised my mom to have me tested for the HOPE program and I passed. Third grade to fifth grade I was a part of the HOPE gifted and talented program. In 6th grade I was accepted into Academy 1 Middle school which is in the top 5% of New Jersey. Now I am a graduate of McNair High School which is the #1 high school in Jersey City and the #5 school in the state of New Jersey as well as a current freshman at Rowan University pursuing a degree in Physics. So, despite what some may think, excellent kids do evolve from Jersey City. Living in the inner city made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I spent a lot of time with my PopPop. Before school PopPop would sweep in front of the house. What I learned later was that he had to sweep daily because people would throw garbage in front of the house. Daily while walking to school, we would pass people on the streets and say hello. And like clockwork the same people were there the next day. What I didn’t know was some of those people were homeless, or just hanging out because they had nothing else to do. When I meet people and tell them I am from Jersey City immediately they think I should talk a certain way, that I am uneducated or that I am affiliated with certain bad groups. But guess what? I am a winner already. In second grade, I was accepted into the gifted and talent program. In 6th grade I was accepted into Academy 1 Middle school which is in the top 5% of New Jersey. I graduated from McNair High School which is the #1 high school in Jersey City and the #5 school in the state of New Jersey. So, despite what some may think, excellent kids do evolve from Jersey City. Living in the inner city made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it. I am currently a Freshman at Rowan University pursing my dream of becoming an Aerospace Engineer.

My focus was always on the goal, the final grade. I often looked at the result and would curse my inability to do better. I possessed the musculature and flexibility to perform better in sports, so why was my time mediocre? I understood the lesson, so why did I barely pass the test? Throughout my first three years in high school, I picked apart every mistake that I made to understand why my goals seemed so far away. I swam in clubs and with my school into junior year, while also doing track from sophomore year to senior year. I always rewatched my events, picking apart every inconsistency in my form. I always looked for ways to improve, from recalling the flexing of my muscles to the tempo of my breathing. Nothing was beyond my analysis. This over-analytical nature carried over into my academics. It was something I carried through my high school years. I found some level of solace in physics and engineering, Understanding the principles of how the world worked was my structure within a world where everything had some minor issues that bothered me. Freshman year, I picked up the idea that nothing mattered. If I tried everything and still failed, I couldn't find a reason to care. Every time I tried harder it seemed I only got further from my goal, and so I stopped caring about it all. My freshman year and most of Sophomore year, I was convinced that moderation was not worth it. I worked out and always pushed my body as hard as possible. I corrected every mistake in swimming and track but barely made progress while even suffering from tendonitis in track. I would sleep less to take more time to train, actively ignoring the pain in my body to continue sets for longer, all to make progress that I could never see. At the end of sophomore year, my frustration had reached its zenith, and I couldn’t care any less about how I felt at the time. I tunnel-visioned on becoming stronger in some way that would be noticeable. The summer after sophomore year is when I began to learn to care. My grandfather fell ill with prostate cancer, and for once I had something other than my frustrations that my mind would focus on without end. Every second I spent at a precollege program I was worried about my grandfather and wondering if he was ok. I made a friend who was a poet who gave me a faint smile, Something I hadn’t truly had in almost two years. In that summer I regained my ability to care but did not understand how to use it, instead, it consumed me. I obsessed over every little thing regarding the people I cared about, and on February 29th, 2024, my grandfather passed away. For the next two weeks, I had test after test, Taking the SAT and struggling to keep my grades right as I was trying to deal with the loss of the person who mattered most to me. He had recorded a video for me in the event he passed. It was a short message, “Have fun, enjoy every moment you have.” So, continuing through Junior year and now in senior year I've made a vow to myself. Even if I think it’s all pointless in the end and that life is too short, I’ll enjoy life. Spend time with the people I care about, pursue that lofty dream to become an aeronautical engineer, and just wing it because regret will always hurt more than failure.

Growing up in the inner city was quite an experience for me. I grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. I can truly say my mom and grandparents did a great job of sheltering me from the chaos of the city because I didn’t know the area was considered “not so great” because it was my home. As a kid I thought my city was normal. My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I was left with my Pop Pop. Before school my Pop Pop would sweep in front of his front door. What I learned later was he had to sweep every day because every night someone would throw garbage in front of the door. He would walk me to and from school every day. Everyday we would pass people on the streets, and we would always say hello. And like clockwork the same people were there the next day. What I didn’t know was some of those people were homeless, or just hanging out because they had nothing else to do. On the weekends my Pop Pop and I would take field trips on the bus to the park. I always wondered why we couldn’t just go to the park that was closest to the house. He told me the park we were going to was special. Once I got to middle school, I realized older kids and adults hung out at the closer park partaking in activities that were on the illegal side of nature and my Pop Pop was sheltering me from that. When I meet people and tell them I am from Jersey City immediately they think I should talk a certain way, that I am uneducated or that I am affiliated with certain groups of people. But guess what? In second grade my teacher noticed I was an exceptional student and advised my mom to have me tested for the HOPE program and I passed. Third grade to fifth grade I was a part of the HOPE gifted and talented program. In 6th grade I was accepted into Academy 1 Middle school which is in the top 5% of New Jersey. Now I am a graduate of McNair High School which is the #1 high school in Jersey City and the #5 school in the state of New Jersey as well as a current freshman at Rowan University pursuing a degree in Physics. So, despite what some may think, excellent kids do evolve from Jersey City. Living in the inner city made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

Growing up in the inner city was quite an experience for me. I grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. I can truly say my mom and grandparents did a great job of sheltering me from the chaos of the city because I didn’t know the area was considered “not so great” because it was my home. As a kid I thought my city was normal. My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I was left with my Pop Pop. Before school my Pop Pop would sweep in front of his front door. What I learned later was he had to sweep every day because every night someone would throw garbage in front of the door. He would walk me to and from school every day. Everyday we would pass people on the streets, and we would always say hello. And like clockwork the same people were there the next day. What I didn’t know was some of those people were homeless, or just hanging out because they had nothing else to do. On the weekends my Pop Pop and I would take field trips on the bus to the park. I always wondered why we couldn’t just go to the park that was closest to the house. He told me the park we were going to was special. Once I got to middle school, I realized older kids and adults hung out at the closer park partaking in activities that were on the illegal side of nature and my Pop Pop was sheltering me from that. When I meet people and tell them I am from Jersey City immediately they think I should talk a certain way, that I am uneducated or that I am affiliated with certain groups of people. But guess what? In second grade my teacher noticed I was an exceptional student and advised my mom to have me tested for the HOPE program and I passed. Third grade to fifth grade I was a part of the HOPE gifted and talented program. In 6th grade I was accepted into Academy 1 Middle school which is in the top 5% of New Jersey. Now I am a graduate of McNair High School which is the #1 high school in Jersey City and the #5 school in the state of New Jersey as well as a current freshman at Rowan University pursuing a degree in Physics. So, despite what some may think, excellent kids do evolve from Jersey City. Living in the inner city made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

As an African American, I have gradually developed a thicker skin. I would get lost in thought, zone out on things or hyperfocus on something that ultimately wasn’t important in hindsight. My focus was always on the goal, the final grade. I possessed the musculature and flexibility to perform better in sports, so why was my time mediocre? I understood the lesson, so why did I barely pass the test? I picked apart every mistake that I made to understand why my goals seemed so far away. I swam in clubs and with my school into junior year, while also doing track from sophomore year into senior year. I would always rewatch my events, picking apart every inconsistency in my form. I always looked for ways to improve, from recalling the flexing of my muscles to the tempo of my breathing. This over-analytical nature carried over into academics as well. I found some level of solace in physics and engineering, Understanding the principles of how the world worked was my structure within a world where everything had some minor issue that bothered me. In my freshman year, I picked up the idea that nothing mattered. If I tried everything and still failed, I couldn't find a reason to care. Every time I tried harder it seemed I only got further from my goal, and so I stopped caring about it all. Through my freshman year and most of Sophomore year, I was convinced that moderation was not worth it. I worked out and always pushed my body as hard as possible. I looked through and corrected every mistake in swimming and track but barely made progress while even suffering from tendonitis in track. I would sleep less to take more time to train, actively ignoring the pain in my body to continue sets for longer, All in an attempt to make progress that I could never see. At the end of sophomore year, my frustration had reached its zenith, and I couldn’t care any less about how I felt at the time. I tunnel-visioned on becoming stronger in some way that would be noticeable. However, the summer after sophomore year is when I began to learn to care. My grandfather fell ill with prostate cancer, and for once I had something other than my frustrations that my mind would focus on without end. Every second I spent at a precollege program I was worried about my grandfather and wondering if he was ok. I made a friend who was a poet who gave me a faint smile, Something I hadn’t truly had in almost two years. In that summer I had regained my ability to care but did not understand how to use it, instead, it consumed me. I obsessed over every little thing regarding the people I cared about, and on February 29th, 2024, my grandfather passed away. For the next two weeks, I had test after test, Taking the SAT and struggling to keep my grades right as I was trying to deal with the loss of the person who mattered most to me. He had recorded a video for me in the event he passed. It was a short message, “Have fun, enjoy every moment you have.” I made a vow to myself. Even if I think it’s all pointless in the end and that life is too short, I’ll enjoy life. Spend time with the people I care about, pursue that lofty dream to become an aeronautical engineer, and just wing it. Because regret will always hurt more than failure.

As an African American throughout high school I gradually developed a thicker skin. Oftentimes, I got lost in thought and zoned out on things hyper focusing on something that ultimately wasn’t important in hindsight. I often looked at the result and would curse my inability to do better. I possessed the musculature and flexibility to perform better in sports, so why was my time mediocre? I understood the lesson, so why did I barely pass the test? Throughout the first three years in high school, I picked apart every mistake that I made to understand why my goals seemed so far away. I swam in clubs and with my school into junior year, while also doing track sophomore to senior year. I would rewatch my events, picking apart every inconsistency in my form. I always looked for ways to improve, from recalling the flexing of my muscles to the tempo of my breathing. This over-analytical nature carried over into academics as well. It was something I carried through my high school years. I found some level of solace in physics and engineering, Understanding the principles of how the world worked was my structure within a world where everything had some minor issue that bothered me. In freshman year, I picked up the idea that nothing mattered. If I tried everything and still failed, I couldn't find a reason to care. Every time I tried harder it seemed I only got further from my goal, so I stopped caring. Freshman and Sophomore year, I was convinced that moderation was not worth it. I worked out and always pushed my body as hard as possible. I looked through and corrected every mistake in swimming and track but barely made progress while even suffering from tendonitis in track. I would sleep less to take more time to train, actively ignoring the pain in my body all in an attempt to make progress that I couldn't see. At the end of sophomore year, my frustration had reached its zenith, and I couldn’t care any less about how I felt at the time. I tunnel-visioned on becoming stronger in some way that would be noticeable. However, the summer after sophomore year is when I began to learn to care. My grandfather fell ill with prostate cancer, and for once I had something other than my frustrations that my mind would focus on without end. Every second I spent at a precollege program I was worried about my grandfather and wondering if he was ok. I made a friend who was a poet who gave me a faint smile, Something I hadn’t truly had in almost two years. That summer I regained my ability to care but did not understand how to use it, instead, it consumed me. I obsessed over every little thing regarding the people I cared about, and on February 29th, 2024, my grandfather passed away. For the next two weeks, I had test after test, Taking the SAT and struggling to keep my grades right as I was trying to deal with the loss of the person who mattered most to me. He recorded a video for me in the event he passed. It was a short message, “Have fun, enjoy every moment you have.” Through Junior and senior year, I made a vow to myself. Even if I think it’s all pointless in the end and that life is too short, I’ll enjoy life. Spend time with people I care about, pursue that lofty dream to become an aeronautical engineer, and just wing it. Regret will always hurt more than failure.

Growing up in the inner city was quite an experience for me. I grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. I can truly say my mom and grandparents did a great job of sheltering me from the chaos of the city because I didn’t know the area was considered “not so great” because it was my home. As a kid I thought my city was normal. My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I was left with my Pop Pop. Before school my Pop Pop would sweep in front of his front door. What I learned later was he had to sweep every day because every night someone would throw garbage in front of the door. He would walk me to and from school every day. Everyday we would pass people on the streets, and we would always say hello. And like clockwork the same people were there the next day. What I didn’t know was some of those people were homeless, or just hanging out because they had nothing else to do. On the weekends my Pop Pop and I would take field trips on the bus to the park. I always wondered why we couldn’t just go to the park that was closest to the house. He told me the park we were going to was special. Once I got to middle school, I realized older kids and adults hung out at the closer park partaking in activities that were on the illegal side of nature, and my Pop Pop was sheltering me from that. When I meet people and tell them I am from Jersey City immediately they think I should talk a certain way, that I am uneducated or that I am affiliated with certain groups of people. But guess what? In second grade my teacher noticed I was an exceptional student and advised my mom to have me tested for the HOPE program and I passed. Third grade to fifth grade I was a part of the HOPE gifted and talented program. In 6th grade I was accepted into Academy 1 Middle school which is in the top 5% of New Jersey. Now I am a graduate of McNair High School which is the #1 high school in Jersey City and the #5 school in the state of New Jersey as well as a current freshman at Rowan University pursuing a degree in Physics. So, despite what some may think, excellent kids do evolve from Jersey City. Living in the inner city made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

Growing up in the inner city was quite an experience for me. I grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. I can truly say my mom and grandparents did a great job of sheltering me from the chaos of the city because I didn’t know the area was considered “not so great” because it was my home. As a kid I thought my city was normal. My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I was left with my Pop Pop. Before school my Pop Pop would sweep in front of his front door. What I learned later was he had to sweep every day because every night someone would throw garbage in front of the door. He would walk me to and from school every day. Everyday we would pass people on the streets, and we would always say hello. And like clockwork the same people were there the next day. What I didn’t know was some of those people were homeless, or just hanging out because they had nothing else to do. On the weekends my Pop Pop and I would take field trips on the bus to the park. I always wondered why we couldn’t just go to the park that was closest to the house. He told me the park we were going to was special. Once I got to middle school, I realized older kids and adults hung out at the closer park partaking in activities that were on the illegal side of nature and my Pop Pop was sheltering me from that. When I meet people and tell them I am from Jersey City immediately they think I should talk a certain way, that I am uneducated or that I am affiliated with certain groups of people. But guess what? In second grade my teacher noticed I was an exceptional student and advised my mom to have me tested for the HOPE program and I passed. Third grade to fifth grade I was a part of the HOPE gifted and talented program. In 6th grade I was accepted into Academy 1 Middle school which is in the top 5% of New Jersey. Now I will be graduating from McNair High School which is the #1 high school in Jersey City and the #5 school in the state of New Jersey. So, despite what some may think, excellent kids do evolve from Jersey City. Living in the inner city made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

Growing up in the inner city was quite an experience for me. I grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. I can truly say my mom and grandparents did a great job of sheltering me from the chaos of the city because I didn’t know the area was considered “not so great” because it was my home. When I meet people and tell them I am from Jersey City immediately they think I should talk a certain way, that I am uneducated or that I am affiliated with certain groups of people. But guess what? In second grade my teacher noticed I was an exceptional student and advised my mom to have me tested for the HOPE program and I passed. Third grade to fifth grade I was a part of the HOPE gifted and talented program. In 6th grade I was accepted into Academy 1 Middle school which is in the top 5% of New Jersey. Now I will be graduating from McNair High School which is the #1 high school in Jersey City and the #5 school in the state of New Jersey. So, despite what some may think, excellent kids do evolve from Jersey City. Living in the inner city made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

I am most interested in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering. I have always wanted to work on or with airplanes. Along with my interest in military aircraft, I also have an interest in technology. The love of what makes the aircraft work on inside and out. My fascination is to combine the two interests and can be surrounded by aircraft but also the ability to be hands on. I have been fascinated with airplanes since I was a little kid. From the time I was a baby, my mom and grandparents would take me every year on a vacation to see my cousins in the South via airplane. I always loved the look of the planes and wondered the mechanics within the airplane. I had the pleasure of attending “Airport Day” at Newark International Airport which is an event that allows families to explore airplanes on the runway. I also experienced Intrepid Museum in New York City. I was able to explore different types of airplanes and even had the pleasure of talking to a Veteran that flew in some of them. My PopPop was an army Veteran. When I was small my mom used to take me to Home Depot workshops. There was one workshop I vividly remember because it was Veterans Day weekend, and the project was a helicopter. I was so excited to build and paint my aircraft for my PopPop. Fast forward my PopPop passed away this Spring. This summer was the first summer my PopPop did not go on vacation with us, but I knew exactly where I wanted to go. So, my grandma, mom and I went to DC to the Smithsonian Aviation Museum in Washinton, DC. Even though my PopPop was not there I know he was there in spirit because we had the best time as he would have too. I plan to major in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace. I will earn my Bachelor of Engineering and Masters. I love planes and plan to be surrounded by aerospace vehicles. Over the course of my career, I want to maintain aircraft, become licensed to fly charters and own a plane. This summer I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were professionals. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events to students just as it was shared with me. I am a leader by nature. I am a student at a magnet school in Jersey City for academics as well as a student at a Performing Arts school to play tuba in a band. Since the programs are at separate schools, I am bussed daily. My freshman year I was the only one in the program for most of the year. It was difficult balancing two schools as the schedules were often off track, but I stuck with it. Now as a senior I am the ambassador for the underclassmen. I know how it felt to be alone and confused freshman year. Now as a senior I know the ends and outs of the program. When the buses are late, I call transportation. When the buses arrive, I make sure all the students are accounted for. It feels good to know that everything is running smooth because of my help.

I am most interested in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering. I have always wanted to work on or with airplanes. Along with my interest in military aircraft, I also have an interest in technology. The love of what makes the aircraft work on inside and out. My fascination is to combine the two interests and can be surrounded by aircraft but also the ability to be hands on. I have been fascinated with airplanes since I was a little kid. From the time I was a baby, my mom and grandparents would take me every year on a vacation to see my cousins in the South via airplane. I always loved the look of the planes and wondered the mechanics within the airplane. I had the pleasure of attending “Airport Day” at Newark International Airport which is an event that allows families to explore airplanes on the runway. I also experienced Intrepid Museum in New York City. I was able to explore different types of airplanes and even had the pleasure of talking to a Veteran that flew in some of them. My PopPop was an army Veteran. When I was small my mom used to take me to Home Depot workshops. There was one workshop I vividly remember because it was Veterans Day weekend, and the project was a helicopter. I was so excited to build and paint my aircraft for my PopPop. Fast forward my PopPop passed away this Spring. This summer was the first summer my PopPop did not go on vacation with us, but I knew exactly where I wanted to go. So, my grandma, mom and I went to DC to the Smithsonian Aviation Museum in Washinton, DC. Even though my PopPop was not there I know he was there in spirit because we had the best time as he would have too. I plan to major in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace. I will earn my Bachelor of Engineering and Masters. I love planes and plan to be surrounded by aerospace vehicles. Over the course of my career, I want to maintain aircraft, become licensed to fly charters and own a plane. This summer I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were professionals. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events to students just as it was shared with me. I am a leader by nature. I am a student at a magnet school in Jersey City for academics as well as a student at a Performing Arts school to play tuba in a band. Since the programs are at separate schools, I am bussed daily. My freshman year I was the only one in the program for most of the year. It was difficult balancing two schools as the schedules were often off track, but I stuck with it. Now as a senior I am the ambassador for the underclassmen. I know how it felt to be alone and confused freshman year. Now as a senior I know the ends and outs of the program. When the buses are late, I call transportation. When the buses arrive, I make sure all the students are accounted for. It feels good to know that everything is running smooth because of my help.

I am most interested in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering. I have always wanted to work on or with airplanes. Along with my interest in military aircraft, I also have an interest in technology. The love of what makes the aircraft work on inside and out. My fascination is to combine the two interests and can be surrounded by aircraft but also the ability to be hands on. I have been fascinated with airplanes since I was a little kid. From the time I was a baby, my mom and grandparents would take me every year on a vacation to see my cousins in the South via airplane. I always loved the look of the planes and wondered the mechanics within the airplane. I had the pleasure of attending “Airport Day” at Newark International Airport which is an event that allows families to explore airplanes on the runway. I also experienced Intrepid Museum in New York City. I was able to explore different types of airplanes and even had the pleasure of talking to a Veteran that flew in some of them. My PopPop was an army Veteran. When I was small my mom used to take me to Home Depot workshops. There was one workshop I vividly remember because it was Veterans Day weekend, and the project was a helicopter. I was so excited to build and paint my aircraft for my PopPop. Fast forward my PopPop passed away this Spring. This summer was the first summer my PopPop did not go on vacation with us, but I knew exactly where I wanted to go. So, my grandma, mom and I went to DC to the Smithsonian Aviation Museum in Washinton, DC. Even though my PopPop was not there I know he was there in spirit because we had the best time as he would have too. I plan to major in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace. I will earn my Bachelor of Engineering and Masters. I love planes and plan to be surrounded by aerospace vehicles. Over the course of my career, I want to maintain aircraft, become licensed to fly charters and own a plane. This summer I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were professionals. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events to students just as it was shared with me. I am a leader by nature. I am a student at a magnet school in Jersey City for academics as well as a student at a Performing Arts school to play tuba in a band. Since the programs are at separate schools, I am bussed daily. My freshman year I was the only one in the program for most of the year. It was difficult balancing two schools as the schedules were often off track, but I stuck with it. Now as a senior I am the ambassador for the underclassmen. I know how it felt to be alone and confused freshman year. Now as a senior I know the ends and outs of the program. When the buses are late, I call transportation. When the buses arrive, I make sure all the students are accounted for. It feels good to know that everything is running smooth because of my help.

Growing up in the inner city was quite the experience for me. I grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. I can truly say my mom and grandparents did a great job of sheltering me from the chaos of the city because I didn’t know the area was considered “not so great” because it was my home. The statistics alone are not the best. The odds are against me as soon as I wake up in the morning. Jersey City has a population of almost 300,000 people. The crime rate is higher than 73% of the state’s cities and towns of all sizes. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime is 1 in 65. There are 39 public schools. Many the schools are ranked below average. Overall, the high schools rank five out of ten which ranks in the bottom 50% of New Jersey public high schools. Schools are underfunded and teachers are underpaid and overworked. As a kid I thought my city was normal. My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I was left with my Pop Pop. Before school my Pop Pop would sweep in front of his front door. What I learned later was he had to sweep every day because every night someone would throw garbage in front of the door. He would walk me to and from school every day. Everyday we would pass people on the streets, and we would always say hello. And like clockwork the same people were there the next day. What I didn’t know was some of those people were homeless, or just hanging out because they had nothing else to do. On the weekends my Pop Pop and I would take field trips on the bus to the park. I always wondered why we couldn’t just go to the park that was closest to the house. He told me the park we were going to was special. Once I got to middle school, I realized older kids and adults hung out at the closer park partaking in activities that were on the illegal side of nature and my Pop Pop was sheltering me from that. When I meet people and tell them I am from Jersey City immediately they think I should talk a certain way, that I am uneducated or that I am affiliated with certain groups of people. But guess what? In second grade my teacher noticed I was an exceptional student and advised my mom to have me tested for the HOPE program and I passed. Third grade to fifth grade I was a part of the HOPE gifted and talented program. In 6th grade I was accepted into Academy 1 Middle school which is in the top 5% of New Jersey. Now I will be graduating from McNair High School which is the #1 high school in Jersey City and the #5 school in the state of New Jersey. So, despite what some may think, excellent kids do evolve from Jersey City. Living in the inner city made me appreciate the little things. Never let your current circumstances stop you from achieving a better circumstance. Despite my surroundings I made the most of my situation. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Always believe in yourself because I did. Even if you don’t see good in your surroundings at the time, know that better is out there and you can achieve it.

Growing up in the inner city was quite the experience for me. I grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. I can truly say my mom and grandparents did a great job of sheltering me from the chaos of the city because I didn’t know the area was considered “not so great” because it was my home. The statistics alone are not the best. The odds are against me as soon as I wake up in the morning. Jersey City has a population of almost 300,000 people. The crime rate is higher than 73% of the state’s cities and towns of all sizes. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime is 1 in 65. There are 39 public schools. Many the schools are ranked below average. Overall, the high schools rank five out of ten which ranks in the bottom 50% of New Jersey public high schools. Schools are underfunded and teachers are underpaid and overworked. As a kid I thought my city was normal. My mom and grandmom went to work early, so I was left with my Pop Pop. Before school my Pop Pop would sweep in front of his front door. What I learned later was he had to sweep every day because every night someone would throw garbage in front of the door. He would walk me to and from school every day. Every day we would pass people on the streets, and we would always say hello. And like clockwork the same people were there the next day. What I didn’t know was some of those people were homeless, or just hanging out because they had nothing else to do. On the weekends my Pop Pop and I would take field trips on the bus to the park. I always wondered why we couldn’t just go to the park that was closest to the house. He told me the park we were going to was special. Once I got to middle school, I realized older kids and adults hung out at the closer park partaking in activities that were on the illegal side of nature and my Pop Pop was sheltering me from that. When I meet people and tell them I am from Jersey City immediately they think I should talk a certain way, that I am uneducated or that I am affiliated with certain groups of people. But guess what? In second grade my teacher noticed I was an exceptional student and advised my mom to have me tested for the HOPE program and I passed. Third grade to fifth grade I was a part of the HOPE gifted and talented program. In 6th grade I was accepted into Academy 1 Middle school which is in the top 5% of New Jersey. Now I will be graduating from McNair High School which is the #1 high school in Jersey City and the #5 school in the state of New Jersey. So, despite what some may think, excellent kids do evolve from Jersey City. Living in the inner city I think made me appreciate the little things. My mom and grandparents worked hard for everything we had. It shaped me to be thankful for the little things in life and that I could achieve any and everything if I worked hard. They made my childhood special despite the environment. If someone had told me, I was underprivileged I would have probably laughed because to me I felt rich. Despite the surroundings we made the most of my situation. Today I am a grateful individual.

Diabetes is a common condition that affects people of all ages. There are several forms of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes happens when your body doesn’t make insulin, while Type 2 happens when your body can’t use insulin properly. My Pop Pop lived with Type 2. My Pop Pop was a big part of my daily life. which means his diabetes was a part of my daily life also. When I was 5 years old, my Pop Pop had ulcer surgery. Not sure how old he was at the time, but his recovery was long and slow. I remember this because I was there. After surgery my mom would pick me up from school and we would go visit him in the hospital. I remember the first time I saw the nurse stick his finger. At first glance I didn’t know why so I asked a question. “Why are you sticking my Pop Pop?” Her reply was “because I need to check his sugar levels”. That’s the day I started to pay attention to my Pop Pop’s diabetes. Recovery was long and slow for my Pop Pop. The surgery ended up pushing him into early retirement. It was sad that he couldn’t work anymore but it was great that, I was able to spend more time with him. My mom would drop me off to my grandparent’s house before she went to work. My grandmother still worked so I spent a lot of time with my Pop Pop. His health became a part of my daily life. Diabetes became a part of my life through my Pop Pop. When I was younger, he was Type 2. He took pills to control his levels, but he really didn’t need to check his blood sugar that often. As he got older his health declined, and he became Type 1. He then had to really be aware of his sugar levels. I would watch him stick his finger and read the tiny machine to tell him whether he needed to inject insulin. I made sure he checked his levels throughout the day to avoid getting sick. Witnessing someone close to you try to control a disease that they didn’t ask for is difficult. He always had to watch what he ate or drank. As a bystander you learn to help the best ways you can. I helped monitor his food intake and log his readings in a book. Diabetes has taught me to be conscious of my own health.

I am most interested in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering. I have always wanted to work on or with airplanes. Along with my interest in military aircraft, I also have an interest in technology. The love of what makes the aircraft work on inside and out. My fascination is to combine the two interests and can be surrounded by aircraft but also the ability to be hands on. I have been fascinated with airplanes since I was a little kid. From the time I was a baby, my mom and grandparents would take me every year on a vacation to see my cousins in the South via airplane. I always loved the look of the planes and wondered the mechanics within the airplane. I had the pleasure of attending “Airport Day” at Newark International Airport which is an event that allows families to explore airplanes on the runway. I also experienced Intrepid Museum in New York City. I was able to explore different types of airplanes and even had the pleasure of talking to a Veteran that flew in some of them. My PopPop was an army Veteran. When I was small my mom used to take me to Home Depot workshops. There was one workshop I vividly remember because it was Veterans Day weekend, and the project was a helicopter. I was so excited to build and paint my aircraft for my PopPop. Fast forward my PopPop passed away this Spring. This summer was the first summer my PopPop did not go on vacation with us, but I knew exactly where I wanted to go. So, my grandma, mom and I went to DC to the Smithsonian Aviation Museum in Washinton, DC. Even though my PopPop was not there I know he was there in spirit because we had the best time as he would have too. I plan to major in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace. I will earn my Bachelor of Engineering and Masters. I love planes and plan to be surrounded by aerospace vehicles. Over the course of my career, I want to maintain aircraft, become licensed to fly charters and own a plane. This summer I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were professionals. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants, and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge, I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events to students just as it was shared with me. I am a leader by nature. I am a student at a magnet school in Jersey City for academics as well as a student at a Performing Arts school to play tuba in a band. Since the programs are at separate schools, I am bussed daily. My freshman year I was the only one in the program for most of the year. It was difficult balancing two schools as the schedules were often off track, but I stuck with it. Now as a senior I am the ambassador for the underclassmen. I know how it felt to be alone and confused freshman year. Now as a senior I know the ends and outs of the program. When the buses are late, I call transportation. When the buses arrive, I make sure all the students are accounted for. It feels good to know that everything is running smooth because of my help.

I am the only child to my mother. I am the youngest of four boys to my father. I have the best of two worlds. Growing up in this type of environment has enabled me to work independently as well as with groups. Both settings helped me develop social skills and relationships. I have the ability to work on projects alone as well as in a team setting. I can complete a task with no help as well as work with a group and contribute to a team. This is a life skill that is very much needed in the world today. I am a senior. I am a student at a magnet school in Jersey City for academics as well as a student at a Performing Arts school to play tuba in a band. Since the programs are at separate schools I am bussed daily. My freshman year I was the only one in the program for a majority of the year. It was difficult balancing two schools as the schedules were often off track but I stuck with it. Now as a senior I am the ambassador for the underclassmen. I know how it felt to be alone and confused freshman year. Now as a senior I know the ends and outs of the program. When the buses are late I call transportation. When the buses arrive I make sure all the students are accounted for. It feels good to know that everything is running smooth because of my help My plan is to attend a University and major in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace. I want to earn my Bachelor of Engineering as well as my Masters. I love planes and plan to be surrounded by aerospace vehicles. Over the course of my career I want to maintain aircraft, become licensed to fly charters and own my own plane. This summer I attended an aviation camp. My teachers were professionals. My teachers were pilots and flight attendants and the experience was awesome. Even with their hectic schedules they found the time to teach us about the different fields of aviation. They showed us that with time and determination we could be who we wanted to be in life. Over time as I gain aviation knowledge I would want to pass the knowledge on. I would share my knowledge through camps and events to students just as it was shared to me.