Hi, my name is Levi, I'm a former Lamar High School student and an upcoming Texas A&M Student with plans to major in either Petroleum or Electrical Engineering. I am more than excited to be able to attend such a prestigious establishment and embark on a journey that hopefully lasts a lifetime. During my time in high school, mental health was little to never spoken about, even though it was a big deal for me. When I walked into senior year, I was expecting for everything to go my way for once. Considering freshmen, sophomore, and juniors were decent, I was destined to make senior year a year to remember. I was taking classes with some of the best professors the school had, I had recently bought a car, so going to school and hanging out with friends after was easier. I finally gained the nerve to ask my crush, to which my surprise, we started dating. Everything was going well. Senior year was just around the corner, and everyday felt like a countdown. And then, life hit. What I once thought was going to be a year to remember, slowly turned into a year to forget. To start, the girl I was with left, which had a ridiculous affect on my grades GPA. That drop from a 4.5 to a 3.9 GPA caused me to lose my car, and my chances of applying to my dream college were diminishing as the days kept on going. The teachers weren't the best like everyone had told me, and life took a toll. My mental health took a toll. I felt like giving up. I felt like just ending all the pain, and the worst part was, no one cared. Not my so called friends, not my family, not teachers or supposedly "helpful" advisors. No one. In todays schools, high school and college specifically, mental health is never taken seriously. Every once in a while, a friendly representative from a non-profit organization will come to our classes to lecture us about the cause, but never actually take action and do more. Across America alone exists thousands of students suffering due to different causes, none being any less significant than the other. Spreading awareness is the first step in tackling mental health, but these representatives fail to go beyond that first step. These presentations are valuable, but after seeing them so many times, the cause becomes another part of life. When in reality, poor mental health shouldn't be just something ordinary. Poor Mental health is not something we as society should normalize. It's a topic that should be talked about more AND have action included. On my end, I decided to listen to those presentations and take further action by asking God to intervene. I tried common remedies to help with poor mental health, but the minute I let God intervene, I felt better from the second I started. Why? Because God provided me with the comfort and security that everything would be just fine. I understood that life is full of ups and downs, but it's important to stand back up and keep walking I write about God because it is an action that worked for me. I understand that everyone has different beliefs and mentalities, and may not agree with everything I just said. However, going to a bigger school, with different people, and a lot more stress, might cause me to regain that poor mental health. But If I look back at what I learned from my high school years, is that action is needed and not just talking.

1 John 4:4 reads, "Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." This is, without a doubt, my favorite verse in the Bible because it shows exactly where our faith should be placed and assures us that, although we may face struggles and hard battles, if we actively have God in our lives, the victory is secured. With God, I have had countless victories. Too many to write in this essay. But out of all those victories, I've seen that God has had a purpose with the success. God wanted me to learn something new and useful for my life. As I embark on this new challenge of going to college, obtaining my degree from Texas A&M University in engineering, and staying connected to faith-based groups on campus like Breakaway or Aggie BSM to help me grow and stay accountable, I hope this scholarship will allow me to establish my relationship with God further, walk with him more, and allow me to become the person he has set out for me to become. With the money that my family and I have, we've always tried to give back. Usually every 1-2 years, my family and I travel to our home country of Guatemala, and we give back. We give back in the form of clothes, food, maybe even in the form of shelter. We never miss out on this opportunity because we know that this strengthens our relationships with God and allows us to do exactly what Paul says in Acts 20:35: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." We've been doing this for years, and we don't plan on stopping. However, the prices of everything have gone up, and it is becoming increasingly harder to continue to spread kindness where it's needed. I believe receiving this scholarship provides more than just money to fund our expedition; it funds an everlasting relationship with God. One that will last an eternity. On top of this, college seems more expensive than anticipated. I am an incoming freshman at Texas A&M University as a first-generation student in engineering. Meaning that on top of the challenges and responsibilities I already have, I will have more. I will likely have to find a job, due to tuition rates, housing costs, and transportation being a lot more expensive as the year goes by. I will also be forced to allow myself enough time in between studying and working. Being funded by any means allows me to balance my life and reduces stress, so I can focus on the things that do matter without being denied the same opportunity as everyone else. I've always attended church since I was little. As early as 6 years old, my early memories were from church. From meeting new people to gathering basic knowledge about God and Christianity. I couldn't say I was the most interested at the time, as I would have preferred to sleep in on Sunday mornings, but nonetheless, I kept going. I kept going in hopes that what I was doing would pay off one day for the better. I also wanted to keep on going so that God could help me fulfill my purpose. Because I truly believe that anyone's identity or purpose is secured in God. I've always wanted to make an impact on the world. Whether this was helping my local community, or being a part of a revolutionary movement that impacts the whole world. I feel like Engineering gives me the best shot at it. Engineering is all about improving our lives through design and application. My life has been drastically improved thanks to the innovations by engineers in the world today. And once again, Paul states in Acts that it is better to give than to receive. In pursuit of an engineering degree, I seek more than just a paycheck. I seek an opportunity to change the world for the better. Right now, I can say that I have a good relationship with God. I always try my best to do what God wants me to do, which is to live an influential life, be a light in the darkness, and never back down from helping others. During college, most students prioritize a lot of things over their spiritual growth, or even their education. There are so many interesting and attractive things to do while we're young. I include myself because I am no exception to this. I could be doing something else instead of what I am doing. But, through my understanding of what God wants from me, I see that these so-called "fun activities" are nothing but a waste of time and a distraction from my goal. Do not get me wrong, it is important to have fun, because as said in Ecclesiastes 3: "There is time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." In other words, there will be time for me to have all the fun that I want. But, there must also come a time when I must work. Right now, college is the time when I must work. Work towards a better future. For my family. For my relationships. For God. For me.

As soon as High school ended in 2023, my father and I planned to dedicate a week of our one-month trip in Guatemala to helping people in need. It was an experience that I initially thought would be simple, emotionless, and helpful. However, it was much more as I expanded on my value of compassion and service. Our goal was simple: to provide food, clothing, materials, and money to those who needed it. Each day, we visited different communities, hoping to see some people. Some days were better than others. With regards to the weather, heavy amounts of rain would cause rocks to fall on the roads and block our path. Additionally, whenever Guatemala hosted parades in the streets, it was almost impossible to go anywhere. When we did, we made sure to make those unfortunate people feel the happiness we intended to share. The gratitude and joy we encountered were overwhelming. So overwhelming that I still remember those smiles. There’s still one moment that stands out. We visited a small village where the residents had almost nothing. As we were distributing food and clothing, a little girl approached me, looking at a blanket in my box. Seeing she was eyeing it, I handed her the blanket. She hugged the blanket and whispered: “Gracias.” Her simple act of gratitude was more than enough to move me to tears. I tried hard to keep my emotions in, but it was too much. The joy that I felt at that moment was unexplainable. It felt great to help out the community. We had initially thought of just doing one week, but I insisted on continuing for another week. The bond we formed with the people and the impact we made was something I couldn’t walk away from. Each day brought something new, but also new smiles and new stories. This is just one of the many stories that makes the person who I am and of the many activities I continue to do to this day. I want to clarify that my commitment to service does not depend on financial support. Even without the scholarship money, I will dedicate my time and resources to making a difference. It is a lifelong commitment of mine. However, with the impact of scholarships, doing this will be so much easier and will enable me to have a wider range of accessibility. Something I have always wanted to do, and I am determined to pursue it with or without external funding is pursue a career in either Electrical or Petroleum engineering. An engineering degree, as many might know is a struggle both mentally and financially. I hear from others the experience that they go through in the attempt to get a career in engineering, and it does not sound fun. However, I know that I can put myself through whatever if I have the right mentality and the right resources. The biggest issue would be the financial part. My parents can only support me so much, and It would be a dream of mine to not only further enhance my education, but also return the favor to my parents, as I know many successful have in the past. That, alongside my efforts to give back to the community and help in any way I can to others, makes me proud and confident in my future. I carry the lessons I learned in Guatemala. I am more than committed to continuing the efforts that I started. To help those in need and to make a positive impact in my community.

I always wanted to be a Pilot. Ever since I was in Kindergarten, I had my heart set out on being a Pilot. This interest sparked when I would travel around every 2-3 months for my sister's dental work in another country. Every single time i got on a plane, I felt like I was right where I want to be. My mom used to tell me stories of how one time I got up from my seat while they were sleeping, and apparently, I had wandered to the place where the captain sits. I have no idea what I was doing there, but I can only assume I wanted to meet the captain. Once a flight attendant found me being where I'm not supposed to be, she escorted me back to my seat, where my mom was then notified of my little journey. My mom was so confused. She kept on asking me what on earth I was thinking. The only response that I remember giving her was "I wanted to see the front of the plane". This passion continued for some time. No matter what coursework I had, no matter what people I interacted with, I wanted to be a Pilot. That isn't until I took physics in high school. Specifically junior year. I was taking IB physics for the IB diploma. I didn't know what to expect but was excited to learn something new. I was getting bored of biology, and chemistry, and anatomy. I wanted something new. Physics seemed cool and useful. Unit 5. Circuits. From the moment the unit started, to the moment it ended, I was so invested. I was so curious as to what happened that allowed all this movement inside these wires to happen. I was so curious as to what exactly big guys like engineers and electricians do, and how they do it. Out of all the units I studied, this one was the best. Hands down, the best unit I ever took. My teacher at the time, Mr. Ross, made the lesson even better. This is really fun to me because every other unit he taught my class was either boring or made no sense. This particular lesson though, just clicked in my mind. During the college application process, I was making my choice as to what college to attend. I had attended multiple advising sessions that all encouraged me to apply to Piloting colleges. I did, and got accepted into some respectable colleges. However, I wasn't as convinced as I once was. I continued to talk to my advisor, and he suggested I look into a career into engineering. During my time in high school, I was "forced" to take engineering courses because I was a transfer student. I say forced with quotes because at one point it was, but as time went on, it became super enjoyable and an easy A. I always loved solving problems. I always loved improving peoples' lives, whether through actual labor, or the simple act of a hug, or a smile, or a donation. Combine these interests with my passion for circuits, I get my new dream career of an Electrical Engineer. I've recently been accepted to Texas A&M's engineering program in College Station, and I hope to pursue a degree in this. As I reflect, I understand that life isn't certain. Nothing that I say right now means it'll happen, and it's important to keep an open mind to whatever life has for you. This lesson doesn't just apply to education, but to every aspect in life. Always keep an open mindset.

I’ve never been the leader type. Everyone who knows me well knows this fact. Ever since I was little, I’ve been a shy kid. I never liked to participate in class. I never liked starting conversations. I never liked taking responsibility. I preferred to contribute and pitch in the effort but never assume responsibility. 30 minutes into my engineering class my teacher pulled me out of class for something important. At first, I thought I was in trouble. Still, it turned out my teacher wanted me to lead the design and manufacture of a wooden traverse piston we had been designing for the past week. I initially rejected it, but my teacher insisted, seeing something in me that I didn’t After lunch, the project began. I realized to get a good grade, I had to face my fear of taking the lead. I was given a wooden block, a piece of paper to write down my steps, and a pencil while everyone gathered around the table. Despite feeling uncomfortable, I knew staying where I was would not help me progress. I started by assigning roles to everyone. To earn a 100, the group needed lathers, sawers, drillers, a cleaning crew, supervisors, and a marker. Everyone was assigned at least one role, with me being both a supervisor and the marker. (The person designated to find dimensions). Next up was figuring out the steps to success. Out of nowhere, An idea sprung into my mind. We would first lathe, then cut, drill next, lathe some more, and cut. I shared my idea with everyone. To my surprise, everyone agreed and called it a good plan. We proceeded with this plan for the next couple of weeks. As a supervisor, my responsibility was to ensure that everyone remained focused and on task. There were moments when I had to correct team members, something I never liked doing. As I continued in my leadership role, I became increasingly comfortable, to the point where leading became second nature. Two weeks passed, and my group had made immense progress. The only thing left was to cut 60 degrees off. As the cutting crew snapped off the final piece, I knew we had done it successfully. The cleaning crew proceeded with their job, and as the supervisors handed the traverse piston to my teacher, he looked up, shook my hand, and said: “This is a solid 3-digit score.” Thanks to my team members, we were successfully able to score 100. I left that classroom with an unexplainable feeling. It felt good to lead, assume responsibility, and succeed. Even though I never liked leading as a child, I now do. As I continue to grow up, I hope to experience more leadership roles and display this new joy of mine.

As soon as High school ended in 2023, my father and I planned to dedicate a week of our onemonth trip in Guatemala to helping people in need. It was an experience that I initially thought would be simple, emotionless, and helpful. However, it was much more as I expanded on my value of compassion and service. Our goal was simple: to provide food, clothing, materials, and money to those who needed it. Each day, we visited different communities, hoping to see some people. Some days were better than others. With regards to the weather, heavy amounts of rain would cause rocks to fall on the roads and block our path. Additionally, whenever Guatemala hosted parades in the streets, it was almost impossible to go anywhere. When we did, we made sure to make those unfortunate people feel the happiness we intended to share. The gratitude and joy we encountered were overwhelming. So overwhelming that I still remember those smiles. There’s still one moment that stands out. We visited a small village where the residents had almost nothing. As we were distributing food and clothing, a little girl approached me, looking at a blanket in my box. Seeing she was eyeing it, I handed her the blanket. She hugged the blanket and whispered: “Gracias.” Her simple act of gratitude was more than enough to move me to tears. I tried hard to keep my emotions in, but it was too much. The joy that I felt at that moment was unexplainable. It felt great to help out the community. We had initially thought of just doing one week, but I insisted on continuing for another week. The bond we formed with the people and the impact we made was something I couldn’t walk away from. Each day brought something new, but also new smiles and new stories. I want to clarify that my commitment to service does not depend on financial support. Even without the scholarship money, I will dedicate my time and resources to making a difference. It is a lifelong commitment of mine. Something I have always wanted to do, and I am determined to pursue it with or without external funding. In preparation for college, I carry the lessons I learned in Guatemala. I am more than committed to continuing the efforts that I started. To help those in need and to make a positive impact in my community.

As soon as High school ended in 2023, my father and I planned to dedicate a week of our onemonth trip in Guatemala to helping people in need. It was an experience that I initially thought would be simple, emotionless, and helpful. However, it was much more as I expanded on my value of compassion and service. Our goal was simple: to provide food, clothing, materials, and money to those who needed it. Each day, we visited different communities, hoping to see some people. Some days were better than others. With regards to the weather, heavy amounts of rain would cause rocks to fall on the roads and block our path. Additionally, whenever Guatemala hosted parades in the streets, it was almost impossible to go anywhere. When we did, we made sure to make those unfortunate people feel the happiness we intended to share. The gratitude and joy we encountered were overwhelming. So overwhelming that I still remember those smiles. There’s still one moment that stands out. We visited a small village where the residents had almost nothing. As we were distributing food and clothing, a little girl approached me, looking at a blanket in my box. Seeing she was eyeing it, I handed her the blanket. She hugged the blanket and whispered: “Gracias.” Her simple act of gratitude was more than enough to move me to tears. I tried hard to keep my emotions in, but it was too much. The joy that I felt at that moment was unexplainable. It felt great to help out the community. We had initially thought of just doing one week, but I insisted on continuing for another week. The bond we formed with the people and the impact we made was something I couldn’t walk away from. Each day brought something new, but also new smiles and new stories. I want to clarify that my commitment to service does not depend on financial support. Even without the scholarship money, I will dedicate my time and resources to making a difference. It is a lifelong commitment of mine. Something I have always wanted to do, and I am determined to pursue it with or without external funding. In preparation for college, I carry the lessons I learned in Guatemala. I am more than committed to continuing the efforts that I started. To help those in need and to make a positive impact in my community.

As soon as High school ended in 2023, my father and I planned to dedicate a week of our one-month trip in Guatemala to helping people in need. It was an experience that I initially thought would be simple, emotionless, and helpful. However, it was much more as I expanded on my value of compassion and service. Our goal was simple: to provide food, clothing, materials, and money to those who needed it. Each day, we visited different communities, hoping to see some people. Some days were better than others. With regards to the weather, heavy amounts of rain would cause rocks to fall on the roads and block our path. Additionally, whenever Guatemala hosted parades in the streets, it was almost impossible to go anywhere. When we did, we made sure to make those unfortunate people feel the happiness we intended to share. The gratitude and joy we encountered were overwhelming. So overwhelming that I still remember those smiles. There’s still one moment that stands out. We visited a small village where the residents had almost nothing. As we were distributing food and clothing, a little girl approached me, looking at a blanket in my box. Seeing she was eyeing it, I handed her the blanket. She hugged the blanket and whispered: “Gracias.” Her simple act of gratitude was more than enough to move me to tears. I tried hard to keep my emotions in, but it was too much. The joy that I felt at that moment was unexplainable. It felt great to help out the community. We had initially thought of just doing one week, but I insisted on continuing for another week. The bond we formed with the people and the impact we made was something I couldn’t walk away from. Each day brought something new, but also new smiles and new stories. This is just one of the many stories that makes the person who I am and of the many activities I continue to do to this day. I want to clarify that my commitment to service does not depend on financial support. Even without the scholarship money, I will dedicate my time and resources to making a difference. It is a lifelong commitment of mine. However, with the impact of scholarships, doing this will be so much easier and will enable me to have a wider range of accessibility. Something I have always wanted to do, and I am determined to pursue it with or without external funding is pursue a career in either Electrical or Petroleum engineering. An engineering degree, as many might know is a struggle both mentally and financially. I hear from others the experience that they go through in the attempt to get a career in engineering, and it does not sound fun. However, I know that I can put myself through whatever if I have the right mentality and the right resources. The biggest issue would be the financial part. My parents can only support me so much, and It would be a dream of mine to not only further enhance my education, but also return the favor to my parents, as I know many successful have in the past. That, alongside my efforts to give back to the community and help in any way I can to others, makes me proud and confident in my future. I carry the lessons I learned in Guatemala. I am more than committed to continuing the efforts that I started. To help those in need and to make a positive impact in my community.

I’ve never been the leader type. Everyone who knows me well knows this fact. Ever since I was little, I’ve been a shy kid. I never liked to participate in class. I never liked starting conversations. I never liked taking responsibility. I preferred to contribute and pitch in the effort but never assume responsibility. 30 minutes into my engineering class my teacher pulled me out of class for something important. At first, I thought I was in trouble. Still, it turned out my teacher wanted me to lead the design and manufacture of a wooden traverse piston we had been designing for the past week. I initially rejected it, but my teacher insisted, seeing something in me that I didn’t After lunch, the project began. I realized to get a good grade, I had to face my fear of taking the lead. I was given a wooden block, a piece of paper to write down my steps, and a pencil while everyone gathered around the table. Despite feeling uncomfortable, I knew staying where I was would not help me progress. I started by assigning roles to everyone. To earn a 100, the group needed lathers, sawers, drillers, a cleaning crew, supervisors, and a marker. Everyone was assigned at least one role, with me being both a supervisor and the marker. (The person designated to find dimensions). Next up was figuring out the steps to success. Out of nowhere, An idea sprung into my mind. We would first lathe, then cut, drill next, lathe some more, and cut. I shared my idea with everyone. To my surprise, everyone agreed and called it a good plan. We proceeded with this plan for the next couple of weeks. As a supervisor, my responsibility was to ensure that everyone remained focused and on task. There were moments when I had to correct team members, something I never liked doing. As I continued in my leadership role, I became increasingly comfortable, to the point where leading became second nature. Two weeks passed, and my group had made immense progress. The only thing left was to cut 60 degrees off. As the cutting crew snapped off the final piece, I knew we had done it successfully. The cleaning crew proceeded with their job, and as the supervisors handed the traverse piston to my teacher, he looked up, shook my hand, and said: “This is a solid 3-digit score.” Thanks to my team members, we were successfully able to score 100. I left that classroom with an unexplainable feeling. It felt good to lead, assume responsibility, and succeed. Even though I never liked leading as a child, I now do. As I continue to grow up, I hope to experience more leadership roles and display this new joy of mine.

The classroom buzzed with pencils scraping against paper, yet my stare remained fixed on the circuits assignment. The symbols and wires felt utterly strange, leaving me at a loss for how to begin. Refusing to let myself fall behind, I rolled up my sleeves and dived into my work. It was a challenging effort - time slipped by, and diagrams swam before my eyes - but slowly, the pieces began to come together. That moment when that tiny LED illuminated my circuit, I discovered a new fascination that I would pursue for my future career. Time has gone by, yet my interest has only grown stronger. Enrolled in IB Physics, I can almost feel the pulse of energy coursing through the wires as we interact with complex circuits. As I did a calculation for the magnetic field strength of a coil during a recent lab, Now, those symbols and equations were not conceptual ideas that I knew but tools I could effectively wield. . As I look toward University, I’m excited by the opportunities to further explore Electrical Engineering.

As soon as High school ended in 2023, my father and I planned to dedicate a week of our onemonth trip in Guatemala to helping people in need. It was an experience that I initially thought would be simple, emotionless, and helpful. However, it was much more as I expanded on my value of compassion and service. Our goal was simple: to provide food, clothing, materials, and money to those who needed it. Each day, we visited different communities, hoping to see some people. Some days were better than others. With regards to the weather, heavy amounts of rain would cause rocks to fall on the roads and block our path. Additionally, whenever Guatemala hosted parades in the streets, it was almost impossible to go anywhere. When we did, we made sure to make those unfortunate people feel the happiness we intended to share. The gratitude and joy we encountered were overwhelming. So overwhelming that I still remember those smiles. There’s still one moment that stands out. We visited a small village where the residents had almost nothing. As we were distributing food and clothing, a little girl approached me, looking at a blanket in my box. Seeing she was eyeing it, I handed her the blanket. She hugged the blanket and whispered: “Gracias.” Her simple act of gratitude was more than enough to move me to tears. I tried hard to keep my emotions in, but it was too much. The joy that I felt at that moment was unexplainable. It felt great to help out the community. We had initially thought of just doing one week, but I insisted on continuing for another week. The bond we formed with the people and the impact we made was something I couldn’t walk away from. Each day brought something new, but also new smiles and new stories. I want to clarify that my commitment to service does not depend on financial support. Even without the scholarship money, I will dedicate my time and resources to making a difference. It is a lifelong commitment of mine. Something I have always wanted to do, and I am determined to pursue it with or without external funding. In preparation for college, I carry the lessons I learned in Guatemala. I am more than committed to continuing the efforts that I started. To help those in need and to make a positive impact in my community.

My favorite athlete to cheer on from Team USA is Alex Morgan. Her achievements both on and off the field separate her from any other USA athlete. I used to really like soccer. Growing up I admired 3 players: Cristiano Ronaldo, Eden Hazard, and Alex Morgan. Alex Morgan is a forward on the US Women’s Soccer Team and has been a pivotal player in their success. She has helped the team secure multiple championships, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. Her ability to score crucial goals in high-pressure situations has earned her a reputation as one of the best forwards in women's football Beyond her on-field prowess, Alex Morgan is also a role model off the field. She has used her platform to advocate for gender equality and has been a vocal supporter of the fight for equal pay in sports. Her efforts contributed to the historic settlement in 2022, where the US Women’s National Team achieved equal pay with their male counterparts. Morgan’s influence extends into the community through her philanthropic efforts. She launched the Alex Morgan Foundation in 2023, aiming to create equity and opportunity for girls in sports and beyond. Additionally, she has authored a middle-grade book series called “The Kicks,” which inspires young readers with stories about teamwork and perseverance. Her endorsements with major brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, and McDonald’s further highlight her impact and popularity. These partnerships not only showcase her marketability but also her commitment to promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. In summary, Alex Morgan’s dedication, both on and off the field, makes her an exceptional athlete and an inspiring figure to cheer for. Her contributions to soccer, her advocacy for equality, and her community involvement exemplify the qualities of a true champion.

There is something about Math that makes it super interesting. There is not one correct answer since this question will hit everyone differently. As for me, It almost feels like a brain break in school rather than a struggle or a complex subject. When I was 4, my dad and I would sit on the couch for hours practicing my multiplication and division. I was shown a flashcard with a 2x2 multiplication problem, with the task of memorizing and understanding. I failed several times, and it seemed like I would never learn. However, I tried countless times. I never got mad, and I never gave up. During lunch one day, the teacher challenged the 5th graders to answer multiplication and division problems as fast as possible. The prize for making it to the end of the cafeteria was $50. Although I did not start the competition, I knew I had to focus when it was my turn. Around 200 5th graders were in the cafeteria, and I answered questions faster than about 150 students. In a world where Innovation is ideal, there is little to no chance Math is not involved. As a high school student taking IB Physics, I see how math is the backbone of understanding the physical world. Whether it is calculating the trajectory of a projectile or understanding the principles of electromagnetism, math is the tool that allows us to decode the mysteries of the universe. Math is more than just a subject; it is a way of thinking and understanding the world. The logical structure and the beauty of finding patterns in numbers and equations bring me a sense of clarity and satisfaction. When you find a solution, the feeling is like solving a puzzle where every piece fits perfectly in place. I love math because it is a universal language that explains the world. It challenges and inspires me. Likewise, it equips me with the tools to make a difference. Math is not just a subject; it’s a lifelong journey of discovery and growth.

As soon as High school ended in 2023, my father and I planned to dedicate a week of our one-month trip in Guatemala to helping people in need. It was an experience that I initially thought would be simple, emotionless, and helpful. However, it was much more as I expanded on my value of compassion and service. Our goal was simple: to provide food, clothing, materials, and money to those who needed it. Each day, we visited different communities, hoping to see some people. Some days were better than others. With regards to the weather, heavy amounts of rain would cause rocks to fall on the roads and block our path. Additionally, whenever Guatemala hosted parades in the streets, it was almost impossible to go anywhere. When we did, we made sure to make those unfortunate people feel the happiness we intended to share. The gratitude and joy we encountered were overwhelming. So overwhelming that I still remember those smiles. There’s still one moment that stands out. We visited a small village where the residents had almost nothing. As we were distributing food and clothing, a little girl approached me, looking at a blanket in my box. Seeing she was eyeing it, I handed her the blanket. She hugged the blanket and whispered: “Gracias.” Her simple act of gratitude was more than enough to move me to tears. I tried hard to keep my emotions in, but it was too much. The joy that I felt at that moment was unexplainable. It felt great to help out the community. We had initially thought of just doing one week, but I insisted on continuing for another week. The bond we formed with the people and the impact we made was something I couldn’t walk away from. Each day brought something new, but also new smiles and new stories. I want to clarify that my commitment to service does not depend on financial support. Even without the scholarship money, I will dedicate my time and resources to making a difference. It is a lifelong commitment of mine. Something I have always wanted to do, and I am determined to pursue it with or without external funding. In preparation for college, I carry the lessons I learned in Guatemala. I am more than committed to continuing the efforts that I started. To help those in need and to make a positive impact in my community.

Many characters in Stranger Things possess unique and positive attributes that can all be useful. However, To combat a new supernatural threat, I will need the best of the best. The squad of 3 I would form consists of Eleven, Jim Hopper, and Steve Harrington First up is Eleven. No surprise here as Eleven has proven to be a crucial character in not only finding Will Byers but also how the story continues to develop. Raised in a lab and subjected to experiments, she developed extraordinary telekinetic powers, which allowed her to move objects, generate force fields, and access dimensions. As she showed in season 1, her power is important for offense and defense, providing a layer of supernatural strength that any team can use. Next, we have the officer Jim Hopper. He brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the team. His background in law enforcement has equipped him with tactical knowledge and combat skills, essential for navigating dangerous situations like the disappearance of Will. Hopper’s protective nature and strong sense of justice drive him to go to great lengths to safeguard those he cares about. His resilience through personal loss and hardship makes him an ideal leader who can keep the team focused and motivated. In addition, his ability to think on his feet and adapt to rapidly changing circumstances ensures that the team can handle any threat that comes their way. Finally, we have the one and only, Steve Harrington. This one might come as a surprise to some since Steve is initially portrayed as a loser, a brat, and a jock. He is introduced as a typical popular kid and Nancy Wheeler's boyfriend. However, as the story keeps going, he evolves into a brave and loyal friend who is willing to face danger. His growth into a courageous person adds to this team by adding a layer of emotional strength, which is ideal for any team. The way I see it, the balance of supernatural strength, tactical expertise, and unwavering courage is the perfect combination that these 3 characters possess and will make them an unstoppable force against any threat.