My curiosity has always been a driving factor of my personality. Throughout my childhood, my father was a practical man, always fixing things and completely obsessed with automotive and mechanical systems. As his child, I was right next to him while he worked on his projects, holding a flashlight and watching as he transformed “junk” into something usable. I stood there, learning as much as I could, and once I got a little older, I was allowed to apply those skills I had observed while helping my dad with his activities. This was my first introduction to mechanics in my life and later inspired my educational and career goals as well. Considering my options, I decided that I wanted to go down the mechanical engineering path. Throughout high school, I have always been drawn to STEM subjects. High school classes in science, physics, and math were among my favorites to take, and the Wayne Community College courses I experienced, such as Introduction to Engineering and Precalculus Algebra and Trigonometry, have only solidified my decision to pursue engineering as I work towards earning my associate in science from WCC. However, my curiosity and passion to learn made it difficult to pick an exact discipline to specialize in. Mechanical Engineering was an attractive option for me, as its flexibility of applications, ranging from energy systems to manufacturing technology, captivated me. I hope to apply the principles of engineering wherever society needs them, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering will help me achieve that goal. The most influential experience I’ve had that solidified my decision to pursue Mechanical Engineering was NC State’s Summer Residential Camp Program. I was extremely excited about this camp because I could finally get a more centered, educational experience regarding engineering. The field I focused on during my stay was Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and I applied the knowledge of mechanical systems and aeronautics I absorbed from each lecture into hands-on activities like making wind tunnels, gliders, bottle rockets, and more. After designing a capsule with my group to protect an egg during a launch for one of our camp activities, I had a glimpse of how important teamwork and problem-solving skills are in engineering. With the resources available and multiple trial-and-error experiments, this further motivated me to pursue a major in Mechanical Engineering. As a woman interested in a STEM career, especially in engineering, I am aware of the gender disparities in my field. Women are a minority in engineering and can face discrimination and judgment for choosing to follow this career path due to its traditional male dominance. However, I am no stranger to doubt. When someone does not believe in me, whether it’s due to my gender or race, it motivates me to work harder and prove that I deserve to be where I am. Advocating for women in male-dominated careers is an extremely important value to me. Bridging the gender gap in engineering is an inspiration of mine, and I plan to persevere and make a spot for myself in the Mechanical Engineering industry, despite the beliefs others may hold because of my biology. Overall, this scholarship will help ease the burden of college finances as I work towards becoming a Mechanical Engineer. Earning a B.S. will not be cheap, and this scholarship will support me as I strive towards a career in engineering. Ultimately, I hope to focus on my professional goals after graduating from high school, break societal barriers for women in STEM, and make a difference in people’s lives from “behind the scenes” as an engineer.