I sat with my aunt a week after thanksgiving, eating the best leftovers have to offer and pie and she was still reeling over that fact that I am pursuing a career in aviation, reminiscing on how I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was a child. I have always loved helping people. To most, I am Len; to many, I am an unpaid therapist who cares just a little too much. I went through phases of life wanting to be a veterinarian, pediatrician, animator, mechanical engineer and I achieved my associates in engineering at my local community college. I knew I wanted to further my education but there still seemed to be a question mark with what I wanted to do with that degree. My family and I signed up for two tours at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: one for mechanical engineering and one for aeronautical science. Growing up I did not have a lot of positive consistencies. It is strange, but in a way endearing, to say I went to three different high schools in three different states. I moved around a lot, often sharing houses I never got to call a home and it seemed the boxes that held our stuff also contained no secrets of the freedom I so desperately strived the find. I had no experience with planes, as far as I knew, people were born as pilots and knew exactly what they needed to do out of the womb. Not really but that is the amount of knowledge I knew about the industry. Where I grew up, no one knows better than that. It is not taught to us. I am determined to know better than that. I want to know what was not taught to us. We signed up for two tours at Embry-Riddle: one for mechanical engineering and one for aeronautical science. Spending the weekend in Daytona and watching planes take off like clockwork left a lasting impression on me. Touring the Riddle facilities is an experience I will never forget. That is what locked me in. I was good at engineering, but there still seemed to be a question mark with what I wanted to do with that degree. Aviation, on the other hand, gave me a sense of purpose and excitement. I applied to Embry-Riddle and got accepted. I started my second year at Riddle last semester. It is such an incredible opportunity to be able to sit in classes with lectures about aircraft performance, turbines, and aerodynamics; to be able to apply those classes to flight…I am working on my private pilot, with over 50 hours of flight experience and 15 hours simulated. I passed my ground labs for Private and Instrument as well as my Private written exam. I want to become a CFI and have that lead to becoming a cargo pilot. Watching my instructor has really inspired me to want to help people get to their solos. I cannot fathom just how validating and amazing of a feeling it is for the student and teacher. Despite being a premature baby, I am often left feeling as though I had a late start in life. I was 24 years old when I was certain on what I wanted to do in life. Time does not slow down for anyone, even when you had an “early start”. Maintaining safety in my flying practices is top priority for me and Embry-Riddle really grounds that into their students. I plan to be proactive and disciplined through my approaches on risk management and decision making. I will be up to date with my training and education and use my acronyms and tools, such as PAVE, to evaluate risks before every flight. I will also emphasize wellness, pre-flight planning, and learning from incidents and applying them to my own practices. I have faced a couple of challenges in my pursuit of aviation. The most recent case was having mismatched names on my certificates. Everything was changed over except for my student pilot license. I had a scheduled an appointment with FSDO right before winter break and they weren’t able to see me until Febuary 4th. This would be fine but it is January now and I have my solo coming up. So I confided with my instructor on the matter and he spoke to out our team manager and flight data department. They decided it would be safest to put me on hold from flight until I got it sorted out. At this point in time my appointment was a month out and that was way too long to wait for. I called FSDO seeing if they had any cancellations and eventually I got in contact with the inspector that was assigned to me. I found out some great information. He comes to my school every month to take care of student appointments so they don’t have to travel out. He would be coming to my school in two days and to email the coordinator to put my name on the list to see him. I did so and was told that his waitlist was full. So, I notify the inspector of this and he tells me to show up on that day and maybe he will have time to see me. His hours were from 0900-1100. I arrived to flight data at 0830 and did not leave until 1230. I think my dedication and persistence showed them how serious I took this opportunity and I was able to get seen that day and have my certificate taken care of. That experience taught me the value of being prepared and to expect the unexpected. You can’t always control the outcome, but you can control your effort and mindset. I’ve learned it’s not about how you fall, but how you get up. The personal qualities that I possess that I believe will contribute to my success in aviation is my discipline and attention to detail by ensuring that I follow checklists thoroughly and remain focused on completing tasks accurately and correctly. I consider my passion for aviation a personal quality as well. Passion fuels continuous learning and perseverance, even when faced with challenges. My enthusiasm for flying motivates me to dig deeper into complex topics, stay committed to my studies, and constantly strive for improvement. My drive allows me to actively seek feedback from instructors and peers and I use that feedback to refine my skills and knowledge. My curiosity pushes me to stay ahead in my field. I believe I am a strong candidate for this scholarship because as a second-year Aeronautical Science student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, I have maintained a strong academic record while engaging deeply with the complexities of flight operation. My coursework demonstrates my ability to meet the demands of this rigorous field. I made the Dean’s List last semester and plan on maintaining it this semester. From the moment I decided to pursue aviation, I’ve been fully committed to mastering it. I have embraced the challenges of aviation and am committed to becoming a skilled cargo pilot and mentor to others. This scholarship is an investment in my potential to make a meaningful contribution to the aviation industry. It will allow me to turn my passion into reality and create opportunities for those who, like me, may not have had early exposure to this incredible industry. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do so.

I have always loved helping people. To most, I am Len; to many, I am an unpaid therapist who cares just a little too much. I went through phases of life wanting to be a veterinarian, pediatrician, animator, mechanical engineer and I achieved my associates in engineering at my local community college. I knew I wanted to further my education but there still seemed to be a question mark with what I wanted to do with that degree. My family and I signed up for two tours at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: one for mechanical engineering and one for aeronautical science. Growing up I did not have a lot of positive consistencies. It is strange, but in a way endearing, to say I went to three different high schools in three different states. I moved around a lot, often sharing houses I never got to call a home and it seemed the boxes that held our stuff also contained no secrets of the freedom I so desperately strived the find. I had no experience with planes, as far as I knew, people were born as pilots and knew exactly what they needed to do out of the womb. Not really but that is the amount of knowledge I knew about the industry. Where I grew up, no one knows better than that. It is not taught to us. I am determined to know better than that. I want to know what was not taught to us. At my local community college, I participated in SGA as senator and these acts awarded me senator of the week. I graduated in December with honors and a 3.5 gpa. I have been actively participating in many of 5ks, one being St. Pete's 5k Run Fest and the profits went to The St. Petersburg Free Clinic. For about 5 years, I helped my neighbor by walking her Bichon pup, six days out of the week. Currently, I am working on my Bachelor’s degree for Aeronautical Science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. I want to become a CFI and have that lead to becoming a cargo pilot. Watching my instructor has really inspired me to want to help people get to their solos. I can not fathom just how validating and amazing of a feeling it is for the student and teacher. Despite being a premature baby, I am often left feeling as though I had a late start in life. I was 24 years old when I was certain on what I wanted to do in life. Time does not slow down for anyone, even when you had an “early start”. The first time I took my driver’s test, I was overwhelmed by nerves. Near the finish line, a small mistake cost me my success, and it crushed me. I held back the liquid threatening to escape my tear ducts until I was alone, feeling like a failure. For years, I struggled to separate this one failure from my self-worth. But when I retook the test, I passed and proved to myself that failing once doesn’t define me. That experience taught me you can’t always control the outcome; it’s not about how you fall, but how you get up. I have embraced the challenges of aviation and am committed to becoming a skilled cargo pilot and mentor to others. This scholarship will allow me to turn my passion into reality and create opportunities for those who, like me, may not have had early exposure to this incredible industry. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do so.

Growing up I did not have a lot of positive consistencies. It is strange, but in a way endearing, to say I went to three different high schools in three different states. I moved around a lot, often sharing houses I never got to call a home and it seemed the boxes that held our stuff also contained no secrets of the freedom I so desperately strived the find. I had no experience with planes. I assumed pilots were born knowing exactly what to do, as if it was second nature from birth. Of course, I didn’t actually believe that—but that’s how little I knew about the aviation industry. Where I grew up, no one knows better than that; it is not taught to us. I am determined to know better than that. I want to know what was not taught to us. At my local community college, I participated in SGA related events as senator, such as volunteering on float, organizing and assisting the Beautification and Sustainability Committee, and a number of information booths around campus. These acts have awarded me senator of the week. I graduated in December of 2022 with honors and a 3.5 gpa. I have been actively participating in many 5k run events, one being St. Pete's 5k Run Fest and the profits went to The St. Petersburg Free Clinic. For about 5 years, I helped my neighbor by walking her Bichon pup, six days out of the week. Currently, I am working on my Bachelor’s degree for Aeronautical Science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. I want to become a CFI and have that lead to becoming a cargo pilot. Watching my instructor has really inspired me to want to help people get to their solos. I can not fathom just how validating and amazing of a feeling it is for the student and teacher. Despite being a premature baby, I am often left feeling as though I had a late start in life. I was 24 years old when I was certain on what I wanted to do in life. Time does not slow down for anyone, even when you had an “early start”. The first time I took my driver’s test, I was overwhelmed by nerves. Near the finish line, a small mistake cost me my success, and it crushed me. I held back the liquid threatening to escape my tear ducts until I was alone. I felt like a failure. For years, I struggled to separate this failure from my self-worth. But when I retook the test, I passed and proved to myself that failing once doesn’t define me. That experience taught me the value of being prepared and to expect the unexpected. You can’t always control the outcome, but you can control your effort and mindset. I carried this lesson into my private pilot knowledge exam, facing my fears with confidence in my preparation. I’ve learned it’s not about how you fall, but how you get up. I have embraced the challenges of aviation and am committed to becoming a skilled cargo pilot and mentor to others. This scholarship will allow me to turn my passion into reality and create opportunities for those who, like me, may not have had early exposure to this incredible industry. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do so.

I sat with my aunt a week after thanksgiving, eating the best leftovers have to offer and pie and she was still reeling over that fact that I am pursuing a career in aviation, reminiscing on how I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was a child. I have always loved helping people. To most, I am Len; to many, I am an unpaid therapist who cares just a little too much. I went through phases of life wanting to be a veterinarian, pediatrician, animator, mechanical engineer and I achieved my associates in engineering at my local community college. I knew I wanted to further my education but there still seemed to be a question mark with what I wanted to do with that degree. My family and I signed up for two tours at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: one for mechanical engineering and one for aeronautical science. Growing up I did not have a lot of positive consistencies. It is strange, but in a way endearing, to say I went to three different high schools in three different states. I moved around a lot, often sharing houses I never got to call a home and it seemed the boxes that held our stuff also contained no secrets of the freedom I so desperately strived the find. I had no experience with planes, as far as I knew, people were born as pilots and knew exactly what they needed to do out of the womb. Not really but that is the amount of knowledge I knew about the industry. Where I grew up, no one knows better than that. It is not taught to us. I am determined to know better than that. I want to know what was not taught to us. I was accepted to Embry-Riddle and am now in my second year here. It is such an incredible opportunity to be able to sit in classes with lectures about aircraft performance, turbines, and aerodynamics; to be able to apply those classes to flight…I am working on my private pilot, with around 50 hours of flight experience and 15 hours simulated. I passed my ground labs for Private and Instrument and my written exam for Private as well. I want to become a CFI and have that lead to becoming a cargo pilot. Watching my instructor has really inspired me to want to help people get to their solos. I can not fathom just how validating and amazing of a feeling it is for the student and teacher. I am apart of Women in Aviation because although those are just goals and dreams now, being in this club brings me one more step closer to achieving them. Despite being a premature baby, I am often left feeling as though I had a late start in life. I was 24 years old when I was certain on what I wanted to do in life. Time does not slow down for anyone, even when you had an “early start”. I have embraced the challenges of aviation and am committed to becoming a skilled cargo pilot and mentor to others. This scholarship will allow me to turn my passion into reality and create opportunities for those who, like me, may not have had early exposure to this incredible industry. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do so.

I am a student pilot pursuing a career in the airlines. I passed my ground labs for Private and Instrument and passed my knowledge exam for Private as well. I currently hold around 50 hours of flight experience and 15 hours simulate. I am close to solo. I went through phases of life wanting to be a veterinarian, pediatrician, animator, mechanical engineer and I achieved my associates in engineering at my local community college. I knew I wanted to further my education but there still seemed to be a question mark with what I wanted to do with that degree. My family and I signed up for two tours at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: one for mechanical engineering and one for aeronautical science. Growing up I did not have a lot of positive consistencies. It is strange, but in a way endearing, to say I went to three different high schools in three different states. I moved around a lot, often sharing houses I never got to call a home and it seemed the boxes that held our stuff also contained no secrets of the freedom I so desperately strived the find. I had no experience with planes, as far as I knew, people were born as pilots and knew exactly what they needed to do out of the womb. Not really but that is the amount of knowledge I knew about the industry. Where I grew up, no one knows better than that. It is not taught to us. I am determined to know better than that. I want to know what was not taught to us. I was accepted to Embry-Riddle and am now in my second year here. It is such an incredible opportunity to be able to sit in classes with lectures about aircraft performance, turbines, and aerodynamics; to be able to apply those classes to flight…I am working on my private pilot, with around 50 hours of flight experience and 15 hours simulated. I passed my ground labs for Private and Instrument and my written exam for Private as well. I want to become a CFI and have that lead to becoming a cargo pilot. Watching my instructor has really inspired me to want to help people get to their solos. I can not fathom just how validating and amazing of a feeling it is for the student and teacher. I am apart of Women in Aviation because although those are just goals and dreams now, being in this club brings me one more step closer to achieving them. Despite being a premature baby, I am often left feeling as though I had a late start in life. I was 24 years old when I was certain on what I wanted to do in life. Time does not slow down for anyone, even when you had an “early start”. I have embraced the challenges of aviation and am committed to becoming a skilled cargo pilot and mentor to others. This scholarship will allow me to turn my passion into reality and create opportunities for those who, like me, may not have had early exposure to this incredible industry. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do so.

I sat with my aunt a week after thanksgiving, eating the best leftovers have to offer and pie and she was still reeling over that fact that I am pursuing a career in aviation, reminiscing on how I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was a child. I have always loved helping people. To most, I am Len; to many, I am an unpaid therapist who cares just a little too much. I went through phases of life wanting to be a veterinarian, pediatrician, animator, mechanical engineer and I achieved my associates in engineering at my local community college. I knew I wanted to further my education but there still seemed to be a question mark with what I wanted to do with that degree. My family and I signed up for two tours at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: one for mechanical engineering and one for aeronautical science. Growing up I did not have a lot of positive consistencies. It is strange, but in a way endearing, to say I went to three different high schools in three different states. I moved around a lot, often sharing houses I never got to call a home and it seemed the boxes that held our stuff also contained no secrets of the freedom I so desperately strived the find. I had no experience with planes, as far as I knew, people were born as pilots and knew exactly what they needed to do out of the womb. Not really but that is the amount of knowledge I knew about the industry. Where I grew up, no one knows better than that. It is not taught to us. I am determined to know better than that. I want to know what was not taught to us. I was accepted to Embry-Riddle and am now in my second year here. It is such an incredible opportunity to be able to sit in classes with lectures about aircraft performance, turbines, and aerodynamics; to be able to apply those classes to flight…I am working on my private pilot, with around 50 hours of flight experience and 15 hours simulated. I passed my ground labs for Private and Instrument and my written exam for Private as well. I want to become a CFI and have that lead to becoming a cargo pilot. Watching my instructor has really inspired me to want to help people get to their solos. I can not phantom just how validating and amazing of a feeling it is for the student and teacher. I am apart of Women in Aviation because although those are just goals and dreams now, being in this club brings me one more step closer to achieving them. Despite being a premature baby, I am often left feeling as though I had a late start in life. I was 24 years old when I was certain on what I wanted to do in life. Time does not slow down for anyone, even when you had an “early start”. I am taking the time that I have left and doing the most with it. Aviation is my present and my future. I want to become a great pilot. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to do so.

Growing up I did not have a lot of positive consistencies. It is strange, but in a way endearing, to say I went to three different high schools in three different states. I moved around a lot, often sharing houses I never got to call a home and it seemed the boxes that held our stuff also contained no secrets of the freedom I so desperately strived the find. It took me a while to truly find what I wanted to spend my life doing. I started in art, working my way to political science, and obtaining my associates degree for mechanical engineering at my local community college. I was looking for a school to further my education. I would not have gotten this far without my family’s continuous support and belief. We signed up for two tours at Embry-Riddle: one for mechanical engineering and one for aeronautical science. Now, I had no experience with planes, as far as I knew, people were born as pilots and knew exactly what they needed to do out of the womb. Not really but that is the amount of knowledge I knew about the industry. Where I grew up, no one knows better than that. It is not taught to us. I am determined to know better than that. I want to know what was not taught to us. My family stayed in Daytona for the weekend. Watching the planes take off like clockwork is a memory I will never forget. Touring the Riddle facilities is an experience I will never forget. That is what locked me in. I was good at engineering, but there still seemed to be a question mark with what I wanted to do with that degree. I get my bachelors then what? I knew for work that I wanted to be an active participant in it. A lot of engineering is done online and that did not seem to fit what I wanted to do. But aviation did. I was locked in and sold. Right there, right then. I was on my discovery flight, soaring the skies and flying through clouds of excitement. I applied to Embry-Riddle and got accepted. I will be starting my second year at Riddle this coming semester. It is such an incredible opportunity to be able to sit in classes with lectures about aircraft performance, turbines, and aerodynamics; to be able to apply those classes to flight…I am working on my private pilot, with around 30 hours of flight experience and 15 hours simulated. I passed my ground labs for Private and Instrument. I want to become a CFI and have that lead to becoming a cargo pilot. Watching my instructor has really inspired me to want to help people get to their solos. I can not phantom just how validating and amazing of a feeling it is for the student and teacher. I am apart of Women in Aviation because although those are just goals and dreams now, being in this club makes me feel one more step closer to achieving them. Despite being a premature baby, I am often left feeling as though I had a late start in life. I was 24 years old when I was certain on what I wanted to do in life. Time does not slow down for anyone, even when you had an “early start”. I am taking the time that I have left and doing the most with it. Aviation is my present and my future. I want to become a great pilot. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to do so.

Growing up I did not have a lot of positive consistencies. It is strange, but in a way endearing, to say I went to three different high schools in three different states. I moved around a lot, often sharing houses I never got to call a home and it seemed the boxes that held our stuff also contained no secrets of the freedom I so desperately strived the find. It took me a while to truly find what I wanted to spend my life doing. I started in art, working my way to political science, and obtaining my associates degree for mechanical engineering at my local community college. I would not have gotten this far without my family’s continuous support and belief. We signed up for two tours at Embry-Riddle: one for mechanical engineering and one for aeronautical science. Now, I had no experience with planes, as far as I knew, people were born as pilots and knew exactly what they needed to do out of the womb. Not really but that is the amount of knowledge I knew about the industry. Where I grew up, no one knows better than that. It is not taught to us. I am determined to know better than that. I want to know what was not taught to us. I was good at engineering, but there still seemed to be a question mark with what I wanted to do with that degree. I get my bachelors then what? I knew for work that I wanted to be an active participant in it. I was on my discovery flight, soaring the skies and flying through clouds of excitement. I was locked in right then and there. I applied to Embry-Riddle and got accepted. I will be starting my second year at Riddle this coming semester. It is such an incredible opportunity to be able to sit in classes with lectures about aircraft performance, turbines, and aerodynamics; to be able to apply those classes to flight…I am working on my private pilot, with around 30 hours of flight experience and 15 hours simulated. I passed my ground labs for Private and Instrument. I want to become a CFI and have that lead to becoming a cargo pilot. Watching my instructor has really inspired me to want to help people get to their solos. I can not phantom just how validating and amazing of a feeling it is for the student and teacher. I am apart of Women in Aviation because although those are just goals and dreams now, being in this club makes me feel one more step closer to achieving them. Despite being a premature baby, I am often left feeling as though I had a late start in life. I was 24 years old when I was certain on what I wanted to do in life. Time does not slow down for anyone, even when you had an “early start”. I am taking the time that I have left and doing the most with it. Aviation is my present and my future. I want to become a great pilot. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to do so. I have contributed to my community by participating in numerous 5ks for about two years now. A few being St. Pete’s 5k fest to help people with food insecurity, Healing Hearts Project, and my most recent being Donna 5k to support breast cancer awareness. For five years, I have also helped my elderly neighbor by walking her Bichon pup six days out of the week.

Growing up I did not have a lot of positive consistencies. It is strange, but in a way endearing, to say I went to three different high schools in three different states. I moved around a lot, often sharing houses I never got to call a home and it seemed the boxes that held our stuff also contained no secrets of the freedom I so desperately strived the find. It took me a while to truly find what I wanted to spend my life doing. I started in art, working my way to political science, and obtaining my associates degree for mechanical engineering at my local community college. I was looking for a school to further my education. I would not have gotten this far without my family’s continuous support and belief. We signed up for two tours at Embry-Riddle: one for mechanical engineering and one for aeronautical science. Now, I had no experience with planes, as far as I knew, people were born as pilots and knew exactly what they needed to do out of the womb. Not really but that is the amount of knowledge I knew about the industry. Where I grew up, no one knows better than that. It is not taught to us. I am determined to know better than that. I want to know what was not taught to us. My family stayed in Daytona for the weekend. Watching the planes take off like clockwork is a memory I will never forget. Touring the Riddle facilities is an experience I will never forget. That is what locked me in. I was good at engineering, but there still seemed to be a question mark with what I wanted to do with that degree. I get my bachelors then what? I knew for work that I wanted to be an active participant in it. A lot of engineering is done online and that did not seem to fit what I wanted to do. But aviation did. I was locked in and sold. Right there, right then. I was on my discovery flight, soaring the skies and flying through clouds of excitement. I applied to Embry-Riddle and got accepted. I will be starting my second year at Riddle this coming semester. It is such an incredible opportunity to be able to sit in classes with lectures about aircraft performance, turbines, and aerodynamics; to be able to apply those classes to flight…I am working on my private pilot, with around 30 hours of flight experience and 15 hours simulated. I passed my ground labs for Private and Instrument. I want to become a CFI and have that lead to becoming a cargo pilot. Watching my instructor has really inspired me to want to help people get to their solos. I can not phantom just how validating and amazing of a feeling it is for the student and teacher. I am apart of Women in Aviation because although those are just goals and dreams now, being in this club makes me feel one more step closer to achieving them. Despite being a premature baby, I am often left feeling as though I had a late start in life. I was 24 years old when I was certain on what I wanted to do in life. Time does not slow down for anyone, even when you had an “early start”. I am taking the time that I have left and doing the most with it. Aviation is my present and my future. I want to become a great pilot. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to do so.

Thank you so much for this opportunity. I started not knowing what I wanted to do in life. At sixteen I was moving states away from a home I no longer had. I moved in with a family that wanted to be a part of my life and saw the future I was still searching for. I originally obtained my associate's degree in engineering but was not quite sure where exactly in engineering I wanted to go. Between the college I was opting to go to after graduation, my family offered a new college to check out in the mix- Embry Riddle. Now, I knew nothing of this place and was incredibly curious about what it had to offer. We went on a tour for both, the mechanical engineering degree program and the aeronautical science degree program. If it wasn't for my chosen family pushing me to find something I truly wanted to do, I would not have my passion in life. I want to be a cargo pilot. My interest lay when I stepped on the Daytona Beach campus and looked at the potential Embry Riddle had to offer me. This is where I find tenacity. A place of being A future I can look at and be proud of. Being a student pilot comes with a lot of adversity and it has helped in more ways than school. I have a strict schedule and requires the discipline I was searching for in life. Some people find it in the military but I found it here. I train the same way I study. I don't give up; I stop when it is done. Becoming a pilot is quite literally setting your life up to become a leader in all shapes and forms of the word. My leadership qualities are bedded in my traits. During my time in college, I participated in Student Government events when I was a senator, such as volunteering on the Gasparilla float, organizing and assisting the Beautification and Sustainability Committee, and several information booths. I reached out to students and posted numerous flyers for school-related events, hoping to get the students active in our affairs. These acts have awarded me senator of the week. I ran St. Pete’s 5k Run Fest in November and the profits went to The St. Petersburg Free Clinic whose goal is to help people with food insecurity. I actively participated in the Gasperilla 5k in February and I will be participating in another 5k this November. For about 5 years now, I have helped my elderly neighbor by walking her Bichon pup, six days out of the week.

Growing up I did not have a lot of positive consistencies. My mother was a functioning alcoholic for 16 years of my life and nonfunctioning for 2. It is strange, but in a way endearing, to say I went to three different high schools in three different states. I moved a lot, often sharing houses I never got to call home and it seemed the boxes that held our stuff also contained no secrets of the freedom I so desperately strived the find. Growing up I could not find that freedom, I could not find who I wanted to be. It was a struggle to know my name yet not know the person connected to it. I am passionate about fulfilling my dreams because I grew up with echoes of encouragement but never a path leading me to get there. There was expected success but no manual on how to start. Eventually, I got lost, as one does when they venture off on a journey with no survivor guide at hand. These paths not only led me down those dark roads, but also the road of continuous self-discovery. Having goals is saying I made it. It is saying I have created a life with goals for a future worth striving for. For someone who did not have a clear understanding of what lay in the wake of their future, I can say with assurance that I am now someone who can see it clear as day, glasses and all. My career goal is to succeed in aviation. Having achieved an Associate in Arts, honors, in Engineering with a 3.5 GPA, I want to obtain get my bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Science and then aim toward my master’s degree. I am wanting to receive a minor in Biomedical Engineering as well. Striving for these goals shows me how much perseverance I hold. Despite being a premature baby, I am often left feeling as if I have had a late start in life. Despite succumbing to objectifying drawbacks, I find myself stumbling into a world greater than the one I grew up in. My style always expressed the stage of life I was going through. This be from my emo phase to my pride galore phase to my proud-of-who-I-am-but-going-to-keep-it-more-neutral phase. I believe having the space and support to freely express yourself is liberating. I believe it catered to me taking the time out and dissecting where my sadness and heightened states of anxiety derive from. It took me a while to grasp who I was and I am not embarrassed to say I don’t fully know myself yet. What I do know, however, is that I understand what it is like to have to go through hardship. You never know what you are capable of unless you go out there, unafraid to figure it out. It is not easy, but everyone deserves a chance at a good life.

My mother was a functioning alcoholic for 16 years of my life and nonfunctioning for 2. Throughout the years in her somber state, my sisters and I endeared a lot. Through countless intoxicated nights, evictions, and sharing houses we never got to call home, it seemed the boxes that held our stuff also contained no secrets of the freedom I so desperately strived the find. Growing up I could not find that freedom, I could not find who I wanted to be. It was a struggle to know my name yet not know the person connected to it. I was sexually assaulted by my mother’s friend at our house, during a sleepover with my sister and younger cousin. The memory of my mother’s absence is more vivid than the alcohol on his breath. I was no more than ten years old. I continue to hold disdain over this moment in my life along with the echoes of my former self still relieved it was me who had fallen victim and not the lovely girls I had the honor of sleeping next to. I am still not sure how he gained access to my home. Was the door unlocked? He came in looking for hotdogs and left with my innocence. I watched my older sister get hypnotized by a sorcerer named Cannabis. I also remember getting the call that she was checked into a mental institution after some unruly behavior. We suspected this was linked to the sorcerer’s dark magic. My cousin took my niece and me in when I was 17 years old. It became apparent my mother and sister were unfit to care for a child. It was hard taking in two children, much less a baby under a year old and a teenager with emotional damage and a comfort zone fueled by checking out. Imagine sorting through that. Seeing intoxicated people would trigger these past events and I was often found triggered by myself in the same way when I consumed an alcoholic beverage. Today, I refuse to let my past define me. I have been beaten down by memories for so long; I have hidden away in fear of Terror’s hands wrapping themselves around me once again. Having achieved an Associate in Arts, honors, in Engineering with a 3.5 GPA and moving on to a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Science with a minor in Biomedical Engineering, really showed me how much perseverance I hold. My career goal is to succeed in aviation. Despite being a premature baby, I am often left feeling as if I have had a late start in life. Despite succumbing to the objectifying drawbacks, I find myself stumbling into a world greater than the one I grew up in. As a senator in Student Government, I participated in reaching out to students and organizing/assisting the Beautification and Sustainability Committee. I recently ran St. Pete’s 5k Run Fest in November of 2022 and the profits went to The St. Petersburg Free Clinic whose goal is to help people with food insecurity. I am heading into my second 5k in late February of 2023. For about 5 years now, I help my elderly neighbor by walking her Bichon pup, six days out of the week. I strive to continuously conduct myself in a positive, helpful manner because I understand what it is like to have to go through hardship. You never know what you are capable of unless you go out there, unafraid to figure it out. And with every fall, I continue to get up and continue to strive—scraps and all.

My mother was a functioning alcoholic for 16 years of my life and nonfunctioning for 2. Throughout the years in her somber state, my sisters and I endeared a lot. I was sexually assaulted by my mother’s friend at our house, during a sleepover with my sister and younger cousin. I continue to hold disdain over this moment of my life along with the echoes of my former self still relieved it was me who had fallen victim and not the lovely girls I had the honor of sleeping next to. I am still not sure how he gained access to my home. Was the door unlocked? He came in looking for hotdogs and left with my innocence. My cousin took me in at 17 years old when it became clear my mother was unfit to care for a child. It was hard taking in a teenager, much less a teenager with emotional damage and a comfort zone fueled by checking out. Imagine sorting through that. My body had fallen victim to another man who gained my trust during my sophomore year of college. I began to understand why it was easier for me to trust a stranger rather than someone I knew. I can not recall a time when a complete stranger demoralized me the way these two men have. I have been burdened with this truth for far too long. I believe real growth is writing this without a stream of tears to follow. Today, I refuse to let my past define me. I have been beaten down by memories for so long; I have hidden away in fear of Terror’s hands wrapping themselves around me once again. Having achieved an Associate in Arts, honors, in Engineering with a 3.5 GPA and moving on to a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Science with a minor in Biomedical Engineering, really showed me how much perseverance I hold. My career goal is to succeed in aviation. Despite being a premature baby, I am often left feeling as if I have had a late start in life. Despite succumbing to the objectifying drawbacks, I find myself stumbling into a world greater than the one I grew up in. I participated in Student Government, in the role of a senator, reaching out to students and organizing and assisting the Beautification and Sustainability Committee. I recently ran St. Pete’s 5k Run Fest in November of 2022 and the profits went to The St. Petersburg Free Clinic whose goal is to help people with food insecurity. I am heading into my second 5k in late February of 2023. For about 5 years now, I help my elderly neighbor by walking her Bichon pup, six days out of the week. I strive to continuously conduct myself in a positive, helpful manner because I understand what it is like to have to go through hardship. You never know what you are capable of unless you go out there, unafraid to figure it out. And with every fall, I continue to get up and continue to strive—scraps and all.

When people talk about the glue that holds a family together, they often lack the inclusion of who provides the duck tape. It was hard on my mother. She had to raise three daughters and take care of her mother on her own. I have only met my father twice. I believe the perseverance she demonstrated helped us understand that struggling to make ends meet does not have to be the factor that dictates your whole life. It is not easy, but everyone deserves a chance at a good life. My mother has gone through a lot of hardship. My mother was a functioning alcoholic for 16 years of my life and nonfunctioning for 2. The hardships I have endeared with her do not equivalate to what she had to go through without me. She always showed up for me, even when she would be the only person from my family in the crowd at my school concert. I remember every Halloween she would dress as a “pumpkin” in her flowy, crinkled pattern, bright orange long-sleeved top. Every Halloween, she would work and every Halloween she would make sure to be on time to take my older sister and me out on the town— to make sure we had a nice night out. She is an EMT driver and I thought that was the coolest thing. Saving lives, one drive at a time. I admired her for it and growing up, she inspired me to want to get involved in careers that focused on helping people and/or animals. I am not sure if wanting to save animals was inspired by the horse park we would frequent or the time she surprised me with my rabbit, Harrison after my hamsters died. I was distraught, she knew, and she figured out a way to make me feel better. I had never owned a rabbit in my life but I took care of Harrison like he was my firstborn. I will forever be thankful for him; I will forever be thankful to my mother. If there is one takeaway from my mother, it is that she always believed in me. Even when actions could not express it, I know her words and her heart lined up. I know there is truth to her words. I took my mother’s perseverance with me to college. Having achieved an Associate in Arts, honors, in Engineering and moving on to a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Science showed me how much truth and power my mother's words held. I am the person I am today because of her. My mother gave me confidence and grit, and I strive ahead with goals for the future. For someone who did not have a clear understanding of what lay in the wake of their future, I can say with assurance that I am now someone who can see it clear as day, glasses and all. The care she bestowed on my siblings and me, the attention to detail about our likes and dislikes…she was everyone to me. She was mom, dad, Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, the easter bunny, and the pumpkin. I can only imagine playing so many roles in one’s life. It is daunting and it feels unsure but she made it seem possible.

I was very close to my aunt growing up. She was a very hard worker and I admired that despite having a high work ethic, she always knew how to make time for the ones she loved. My aunt passed away from cancer going on 6 years ago now. The last time we were together was a couple of months back, on a cruise and she seemed so happy. In reality, she was hiding this treacherous experience from us because she did not want to burden us with the fate she, unfortunately, had to take part in. I remember getting the call from my younger cousin and being at a loss of breath, thinking there is no way this could be true. Our aunt? Our hardworking aunt who showed us that the impossible was only a dream away? Now that’s impossible. I was a new high school grad and still figuring out who I wanted to be. After hearing about her passing, I was unsure of where to go from there. My cousin took me in at 17 years old. I suffered from the loss of an amazing aunt and also the loss of a relationship with my mother. I have only met my father twice. My cousin provides me with the same love and compassion my aunt used to. I branched into majors such as art, politics, and mechanical engineering. I loved every major but I was not satisfied. I did not find the passion my aunt had for work in these majors. I was still so unsure. I ended up obtaining my Associate in Arts in engineering and am now enrolled to obtain a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical science. I have fallen in love with aeronautical science. It took me four years of education to understand that. Four years of channeling my aunt to understand that. My aunt traveled the world and she loved every minute of it. I will be following in her footsteps and traveling the world as well, although it will be one pilot seat at a time rather than one first-class ticket at a time. The memories I carry with her entice me to do better. When my cousin took me in, I was not in a good place-- this be physically and mentally. To top this off with being unsure of what to do in life led me to a place not capable of understanding that life held more than what I understood. My aunt understood it though; she knew what life held. It is not easy, but everyone deserves a chance at a good life. She was someone I looked up to, someone who had a beautiful soul, someone I love. Now, after some time, I can understand myself better and that led me to understand what made life so beautiful to her. To have such a passionate grasp on family, who are you, who you are going to be…I will continue to live my life through the wisdom taught to me and will not hesitate to pass it down. It is important to be picky about who you surround yourself with. I am lucky and honored to have had my aunt in my corner.

Growing up I did not have a lot of positive consistencies. It is strange, but in a way endearing, to say I went to three different high schools in three different states. I moved around a lot, often sharing houses I never got to call a home and it seemed the boxes that held our stuff also contained no secrets of the freedom I so desperately strived the find. Growing up I could not find that freedom, I could not find who I wanted to be. It was a struggle to know my name yet not know the person connected to it. To me, my childhood illustrates the art of finding where you belong. When people talk about the glue that holds a family together, they often lack the inclusion of who provides the duck tape. It was hard on my mother. She had to raise three daughters on her own. I believe the perseverance she demonstrated helped us understand that struggling to make ends meet does not have to be the factor that dictates your whole life. It is not easy, but everyone deserves a chance at a good life. Having career/education goals is saying I made it. It is saying I have a life with goals for a future worth striving for. For someone who did not have a clear understanding of what lay in the wake of their future, I can say with assurance that I am now someone who can see it clear as day, glasses and all. My career goal is to succeed in aviation. I want to get my bachelor’s degree and then aim toward my master’s degree. I am wanting to receive a minor in biomedical engineering as well. Despite being a premature baby, I am often left feeling as if I have had a late start in life. With this, however, it only makes me want to strive further and work harder. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard, and hard work is what you will get from me. During my time in college, I participated in Student Government related events when I was a senator, such as volunteering on the Gasparilla float, organizing and assisting the Beautification and Sustainability Committee, and several information booths. I reached out to students and posted numerous flyers for school-related events, hoping to get the students active in our affairs. These acts have awarded me senator of the week. I graduated in December with an AA degree with honors with a 3.5 GPA and am looking forward to my furthering my academic journey. I recently ran St. Pete’s 5k Run Fest in November and the profits went to The St. Petersburg Free Clinic whose goal is to help people with food insecurity. I will be actively participating in the Gasparilla 5k in February. For about 5 years now, I help my elderly neighbor by walking her Bichon pup, six days out of the week. I strive to continuously conduct myself in a positive, helpful manner because I understand what it is like to have to go through hardship. You never know what you are capable of unless you go out there, unafraid to figure it out. And with every fall, I continue to get up and continue to strive—scraps and all.

Growing up I did not have a lot of positive consistencies. It is strange, but in a way endearing, to say I went to three different high schools in three different states. I moved around a lot, often sharing houses I never got to call a home and it seemed the boxes that held our stuff also contained no secrets of the freedom I so desperately strived the find. Growing up I could not find that freedom, I could not find who I wanted to be. It was a struggle to know my name yet not know the person connected to it. To me, my childhood illustrates the art of finding where you belong. When people talk about the glue that holds a family together, they often lack the inclusion of who provides the duck tape. It was hard on my mother. She had to raise three daughters on her own. I believe the perseverance she demonstrated helped us understand that struggling to make ends meet does not have to be the factor that dictates your whole life. It is not easy, but everyone deserves a chance at a good life. Having career goals is saying I made it. It is saying I have a life with goals for a future worth striving for. For someone who did not have a clear understanding of what lay in the wake of their future, I can say with assurance that I am now someone who can see it clear as day, glasses and all. My career goal is to succeed in aviation. I want to get my bachelor’s degree and then aim toward my master’s degree. I am wanting to receive a minor in biomedical engineering as well. Despite being a premature baby, I am often left feeling as if I have had a late start in life. With this, however, it only makes me want to strive further and work harder. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard, and hard work is what you will get from me. During my time in college, I participated in Student Government related events when I was a senator, such as volunteering on the Gasperilla float, organizing and assisting the Beautification and Sustainability Committee, and several information booths. I reached out to students and posted numerous flyers for school-related events, hoping to get the students active in our affairs. These acts have awarded me senator of the week. I graduated in December with an AA degree with honors with a 3.5 GPA and am looking forward to my furthering my academic journey. I recently ran St. Pete’s 5k Run Fest in November and the profits went to The St. Petersburg Free Clinic whose goal is to help people with food insecurity. I will be actively participating in the Gasperilla 5k in February. For about 5 years now, I help my elderly neighbor by walking her Bichon pup, six days out of the week. In the future, I am looking forward to spending my time volunteering at soup kitchens. I strive to continuously conduct myself in a positive, helpful manner because I understand what it is like to have to go through hardship. You never know what you are capable of unless you go out there, unafraid to figure it out. And with every fall, I continue to get up and continue to strive—scraps and all.