Chappell Roan has become one of the most iconic music artists this past year. Her music resonates with millions of people worldwide, especially the LGBTQ+ community. Many of her most popular songs are centered around her experience as a lesbian, going through the motions of falling in love, heartbreak, and accepting her sexuality. Thousands of LGBTQ+ people have experienced these moments throughout their journey toward discovering themselves, and it is crucial to see ourselves represented in media outlets we see and hear every day. The first song of her's that I got introduced to was "Good Luck, Babe!," a song about breakups and a lesbian woman wishing the best for her closeted ex in her new heterosexual relationship. While I do not relate to the overall message of the track, the bridge always brings up feelings of longing and desperation for a girl I loved dearly at the time. It was part of my journey toward confronting my deeply rooted affections and moving on. "Hot to Go!" is one of my favorite songs. Its fun nature, danceable tempo, and suggestive lyrics made my day colorful and energetic. The confidence exuding from her voice as she sings about her desires gives me the boost to try new things and put myself out there that no other song has done for me. Her music is incredibly inspiring to millions, including myself. Roan has encouraged many to be true to themselves and express all aspects of themselves to the world without fear. At times like these, where the community has been discriminated against by society, with the government turning its backs on the underrepresented, artists like Chappell, who take pride in their identity, are the pillars of hope for their communities and the advocates of equality. I hope to have the same effect on others in my life now and in the future.

Back in high school, I struggled with understanding some programming concepts because of negative experiences in the past. I discovered my knack for programming from participating in a summer STEM program to help middle schoolers transition into high school. However, I could not fully enjoy the experience because my instructor's sour attitude left me with a bitter feeling, which I later associated with any work involving coding. It continued into my first year. I experienced abundant frustration and constant stress because of the format, and it impacted my academic performance, especially in AP Computer Science Principles. I was assigned the same professor for the AP course, still harboring resentment toward him, and the quality of his teaching lowered throughout the year, and quit coding altogether afterward. I picked up programming again in my junior year of high school when I struggled to choose a new career path. Luckily, my mom supported me through my crisis, and I decided to pursue a career in project management. I have experience in Python and C++ programming under my belt, and it helps that I am studying discrete structures and attending an introductory programming course to build a strong base. It will be tough to break down my programming knowledge to the basics, but I can work through it with the guidance of professors and working with my classmates. My passion for computer science stems from my desire to become a role model for underrepresented minorities and other marginalized groups in STEM degrees and fields, the power to create valuable applications used by all, and making my family proud by being the first to complete a four-year degree. There is little representation for women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community in the tech industry and STEM degrees. Younger members of these communities interested in STEM need to see themselves in these industries and get the motivation to pursue these fields in the future. I want to be someone they can look up to and possibly mentor based on my experience. Programming is powerful. It allows you to create various unique projects and algorithms. These computer programs can range from everyday applications for entertainment to becoming a powerful tool for businesses to maintain balance in the company. It makes programmers feel like they are making genuine contributions to the world through their creativity and hard work. I want my programs to impact my users meaningfully, be accessible to all, and create positive change in real life. As a first-generation student, I want to be a good role model for my sister and support her when she needs assistance with college-related issues, like financial aid. On top of being a role model, I want to make my family proud and ensure that their monetary and emotional investments in my future bear fruit. I want my success as a college student and eventual graduate to be a sign that they did well to push me toward triumph. This scholarship is valuable in many ways. It will provide me with the funds to continue my education and access campus resources, propelling me toward a fulfilling college experience. It opens doors to various networking opportunities as a college student with mentors and professionals in my desired field. It lets me access many research and project opportunities that enhance my resume and career prospects. It allows me to go into my career and demonstrate my capabilities as a leader and trailblazer for my community.

I am studying computer science, living on-campus, and have slowly built a support system of friends and family who greatly impacted my academic career and overall character. I look back on my high school years and remember how I would look forward to finally graduating and moving on to college. At some point, I did not believe I would get this far into my life because the idea seemed so far away. My path toward choosing this field started the summer before my first year of high school during COVID-19. My mom signed me up for Summer Bridge, a summer program helping incoming freshmen transition from middle to high school and offering STEM courses for credit. Going into the program, I resented my mom for forcing me into it, but I put my best foot forward and applied myself. I discovered my knack for programming from participating in the program. However, I could not fully enjoy the experience because of my instructor's sour attitude, which I later associated with work involving coding. Since the pandemic and the shutdown were still in place, I spent my whole year online. I experienced constant frustration and stress because of the format, impacting my academic performance, especially in AP Computer Science Principles. I was assigned the same professor for the AP course, still harboring resentment toward him, and the quality of his teaching lowered throughout the year. After that year, I refused to continue to AP Computer Science Applications because I felt unqualified, and various sources claimed the course was rigorous. I picked up programming again in my junior year of high school when I struggled to choose a new career path. I went through a period of self-reflection and put more thought into the career I wanted to pursue. I felt lost for months on what to do until my mom proposed a solution. With her help, we made a list of skills I could utilize in a career. My leadership and organizational skills lead me to choose project management. From there, I needed to choose a specialization, and that is where my programming skills came into play. I decided to be an IT project manager or someone who manages IT-related projects for companies by planning, budgeting, and leading teams of technology specialists to the end goal. Ever since this discovery, I paved my way toward refamiliarizing and advancing myself to the best of my ability. I attended two programming courses through my high school's dual enrollment program. I relearned how to program in Python and had my first experience with C++ by going through various learning modules and working on team projects. Each project further developed my communication and teamwork skills and allowed me to put my knowledge into practice. I am now an ambitious honors student who aspires to thrive at CPP by applying my determination and leadership from working in project teams to school organizations and programming internships. This scholarship is valuable in many ways. It will provide me with the funds to continue my education and access campus resources, propelling me toward a fulfilling college experience. It opens doors to various networking opportunities as a college student with mentors and professionals in my desired field. It lets me access many research and project opportunities that enhance my resume and career prospects. It allows me to go into my career and demonstrate my capabilities as a leader and trailblazer for my community. It permits me to inspire others who struggle with identity, have a passion for computing or STEM fields, or want to prove themselves.

As an incoming college freshman passionate about programming and business, I am fully committed to pursuing a bachelor's in computer science and a minor in business. My interest in computer programming was later than most, and I have done my best to work toward propelling myself concerning my programming knowledge and skills by enrolling in an introductory programming dual enrollment course and challenging myself by participating in CyberStart America. The cybersecurity competition taught me much about various cybersecurity topics, like utilizing browser dev tools and cryptography. I earned the National Cyber Scholar title and have been working toward earning a Google Certificate in Project Management, qualifying me to apply for Certified Associate in Project Management. Entering Cal Poly Pomona, I will join the programs and extracurriculars offered, such as the CPP Game Development Club and sheCodes, to continue improving my programming and collaboration skills by working on team projects with other club members. After college, I will enter my field by starting as a software developer and working on software applications and computer systems. After a few years of working in that position, I want to pursue project management or get into game development. I want to work with companies to set goals and assist in working toward them by managing teams and resources, maintaining budgets and progress, and exercising risk management strategies. I recently became interested in developing video games that offer users an incredible gaming experience. Either pathway allows me to grow in the technology industry. Regarding STEM, specifically technology, there is much opportunity for growth in all aspects. When I first entered STEM as a pathway in my first year of high school, despite being forced into it, I was initially interested in creating websites using HTML and learning a bit about Python. Since I was more inclined to design, I was more interested in web development. However, when I took more time to practice Python, I became increasingly intrigued by developing limitless types of programs and expanding my programming knowledge to other languages like Java and C. It excites me that STEM opens many career opportunities for those passionate about computer science and allows for job promotion if you have a knack for it. Having a well-paying and rejuvenating career in tech promotes personal growth. The less time spent worrying about finances allows individuals to explore parts of themselves and become their ideal selves. Over time, they can spread that positivity and knowledge to others who want to do the same. A job in information technology not only opens doors for me but for other people as well. Becoming a tech professional will propel me toward various career and personal goals. From there, I can open up opportunities for others that can benefit them and encourage ambition and continuous learning in my community. I believe my work can lead to a legacy of other IT professionals becoming leaders who inspire and improve the world. The projects I manage and execute can lead to new programs and computer systems that work toward various causes meant to benefit people at a national level. These can be a program that minimizes homelessness in California or a system that ensures that families in need receive the assistance they need. I have experienced many challenges throughout my high school career, much of it concerning college and time management. Since I am the oldest between myself and my sister, and neither of my parents has earned a college degree, I will be the first in my family to attend a four-year degree program intending to graduate with a bachelor's in computer science. The process of college applications and figuring out my financial situation has been incredibly stressful, especially with my parents separating during my third year of high school. One of my most significant challenges occurred after committing to Cal Poly Pomona. I have trouble separating failure from learning. My self-esteem took various hits from emails filled with fluffy words doused in rejection. I kept many of these negative thoughts to myself to not burden others with my self-pity. But it all fell apart when I received a failing grade on my college math final. Sharing the news with my family, I expected disappointment and degrading comments. However, they expressed their pride in me despite it and that this was only a learning experience to utilize on my college journey. These sentiments and encouragement brought me to retake that test and earn a B in the course. Now, I need to unlearn this mindset and allow myself to make mistakes while learning from them instead of beating myself up for them. I can take these moments and let them push me toward achieving success and leading a healthy and accomplished life.

When I was a Junior in high school, I experienced a spiral after questioning my initial dream to become a freelance artist and attend art school after graduating. I struggled with my identity and what I wanted my adulthood to be like. I was frustrated with myself and wondered why it was so hard to organize and plan my future when I used to be incredible at it before. After months of uncertainty, my mother came to me with a solution. She suggested utilizing my organizational and leadership skills and pursuing project management as a career. Initially, I was skeptical since I didn’t see myself as someone who could lead a group of professionals, much less hold a decent conversation with an individual. Despite my doubts, I looked into what it was like and what it took to work up the ladder towards project management. I was intrigued by the descriptions, and its qualities checked some of my boxes for a possible job! From there, I started to explore the different industries with a high job outlook, choosing to delve into information technology. I had previous experience with programming in Python, albeit not lengthy or the best, and decided to take opportunities to improve my skills. My mom showed me where I could earn a Google Career Certificate by going through several modules introducing the various terms and processes used by project managers. For months, I tried to work through the course; I watched every video, read through articles and interactive infographics, and engaged in challenging assignments. I felt confident as I dug into the project cycle and the standard practices project managers utilize to lead the groups of people they’re in charge of. Unfortunately, I hit a block in my progress since I had a family matter occur, and pushed through other issues cropped up towards the end of the course. I never got to finish, but I still plan to complete it and earn my last certificate. Currently, I am spending more time working toward the programming aspects of my career by participating in CyberStart America to earn a scholarship and taking notes on computer science-related YouTube videos. It may not seem like much, but I have made more progress than I ever thought before. I want to continue to work harder and smarter by pursuing my project management certification as I work toward getting my bachelor’s in business administration and computer science at university. However, I need the funds to enter one of the colleges of my dreams. By earning this money, I can progress toward making the sufficient amount needed to pay my tuition and my school supplies.

When I was a Junior in high school, I experienced a spiral after questioning my initial dream to become a freelance artist and attend art school after graduating. I struggled with my identity and what I wanted my adulthood to be like. I was frustrated with myself and wondered why it was so hard to organize and plan my future when I used to be incredible at it before. After months of uncertainty, my mother came to me with a solution. She suggested utilizing my organizational and leadership skills and pursuing project management as a career. Initially, I was skeptical since I didn’t see myself as someone who could lead a group of professionals, much less hold a decent conversation with an individual. Despite my doubts, I looked into what it was like and what it took to work up the ladder towards project management. I was intrigued by the descriptions, and its qualities checked some of my boxes for a possible job! From there, I started to explore the different industries with a high job outlook, choosing to delve into information technology. I had previous experience with programming in Python, albeit not lengthy or the best, and decided to take opportunities to improve my skills. My mom showed me where I could earn a Google Career Certificate by going through several modules introducing the various terms and processes used by project managers. For months, I tried to work through the course; I watched every video, read through articles and interactive infographics, and engaged in challenging assignments. I felt confident as I dug into the project cycle and the standard practices project managers utilize to lead the groups of people they’re in charge of. Unfortunately, I hit a block in my progress since I had a family matter occur, and pushed through other issues cropped up towards the end of the course. I never got to finish, but I still plan to complete it and earn my last certificate. Currently, I am spending more time working toward the programming aspects of my career by participating in CyberStart America to earn a scholarship and taking notes on computer science-related YouTube videos. It may not seem like much, but I have made more progress than I ever thought before. I want to continue to work harder and smarter by pursuing my project management certification as I work toward getting my bachelor’s in business administration and computer science at university.

I'm my future, I'm living a comfortable life with a job in programming, a beautiful townhouse, and two cats that I love dearly.

My mental health was never quite the strongest. I've had my share of depressive episodes and anxiety crawling up my throat. I never claimed to have depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues because I constantly contradicted myself. I began wondering if something was happening that I wasn't quite aware of. My middle school years were some of the worst years of my life. From 2016-2019, it felt like it was all crashing down. My relationships with friends deteriorated, and I wanted to leave my room less and less. I could barely hold a conversation, much less start one. I can't help but feel like I'm being watched from every angle, judged by my peers and family almost every day. I never felt supported in anything unless it was related to my grades or attempts at joining a sport. I had little to no confidence in myself. I was starting to lose hope in building a future. As I moved on to my Freshman year of high school, I started to stress myself out over what career I wanted to pursue and if I'd make any friends during the school year. I met neither of those goals. In my sophomore year, my mental health slightly improved. I was beginning to figure out who I wanted to be and found myself in small clusters of people I left comfortable with. I was a high achiever, aiming for straight A's and possibly training to play volleyball for my school team. However, things began going downhill when I started to feel isolated. I still didn't have an established friend group and struggled fully trust anyone. Then the people I surrounded myself with disappeared, and I was putting my all into surviving the rest of the year. I took college classes for some credits during the summer and went summer school, so I didn't have to take PE during my Junior year. Once again, I was drowning in work and sweat with little time to spend with family and friends. My patience for people was waning, and my social skills began to rust. I couldn't handle being around groups of people for long and felt out of place in my small quiet bubble. Now, I'm close to finishing my Junior year. I still struggle to b social around people my age. My grades are still well, with some incredibly stressful setbacks. I became the secretary of my school's book club, but we never connected quite well. Despite these roadblocks, I still created goals for myself and met a few. I wanted to learn new things and strengthen my relationships with my family. I accomplished them by spending more time with my little sister, going on a food world tour with my aunt, and going out to musicals and dinners with my mom. To this day, I'm proud of how far I've gone in life. At 13, I was worried about surviving the following year. But now, at 17 years old, I don't have to worry about that as much anymore. I have a career and college to look forward to. I want to live with my friends before finding a house. I want to move to Canada and adopt two beautiful cats for the first time. I want to live rather than exist, and slowly but surely, I'm accomplishing that goal.