My name is Lilly Gomez. I’m an 18-year-old Mexican-American girl who wants to pursue welding. I fell in love with welding very quickly. I was drawn to the fact that I could create so much by welding and fabricating. I have a very creative mind, and welding is just one way that allows me to use it. I'm always looking to improve and do better, no matter what. My drive comes from my desire to be the best I can be. Welding is my favorite pastime and something I can picture myself doing as a career. From the look of the arc colors to the satisfaction of laying down a good bead, welding brings me so much joy. I can't imagine doing anything else for a career besides welding. When I first got into welding, though, it was intimidating. I was one of three girls in a class with about 20-25 guys. We often were looked down on even though we tended to do better than our peers. I don't want other young girls to feel the way I did, like they're not as good as the guys. Pursuing welding means that I get to set new standards and examples for girls in trades. I want girls to look up to me and the other amazing women in the trades and see themselves being able to pursue and do what we do. Making a splash in a male-dominated field will be difficult, but that doesn't mean I won't work as hard as possible. Women and young girls need to be able to see others doing things they may not have even dreamed of. One day, I will open my fabrication shop, which will be women-dominated and empowering. We will be able to help young girls and women alike to learn about welding and other trades. The shop will be a place of hard work and educational opportunities. No one should ever feel afraid to come in and ask us for help with projects or to find information about the trades. My shop will be donating to women and girls in need of help to pursue trade careers. I believe women can and will improve the trades as more go into it. We are essential to how life runs; there wouldn't be much without women. So, all in all, women like me will join the trades, make a significant, needed difference, and encourage more lovely women to join. This scholarship allows me to pay for school and rent while I learn welding. I've worked so hard over the last few summers to save up to go to the school of my dreams—Tulsa Welding. I've saved a good amount, but it's insufficient to pay fully. My dad has sacrificed so much as a military man, and I don't want to make him go into debt so I can go to school. Any scholarship money I earn goes directly towards helping me get through school. Once I finish school, I can finally start making a difference in the world of welding. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have found even more of a reason to go into the trades and make an impact. I feel as though there are plenty of harmful stereotypes of LGBT+ people, and that's not okay. I know that if I can make a successful queer-owned company, I can then go on to help more people better understand the LGBTQ+ community.

I fell in love with welding very quickly. I've been intrigued by how I could create so much by welding and fabricating. I have a very creative mind, and welding is just one way that allows me to use it. I enjoy creating scrap metal art; I've made many flower art pieces and sculptures from old car parts and other metals. I'm always looking to improve and do better, no matter what. My drive comes from my desire to be the best I can be. Welding is my favorite pastime and something I can picture myself doing as a career. From the look of the arc colors to the satisfaction of laying down a good bead, welding brings me so much joy. I can't imagine doing anything else for a career besides welding. When I first got into welding, though, it was intimidating. I was one of three girls in a class with about 20-25 guys. We often were looked down on even though we tended to do better than our peers. I don't want other young girls to feel the way I did, like they're not as good as the guys. Pursuing welding means that I get to set new standards and examples for girls in trades. I want girls to look up to me and the other amazing women in the trades and see themselves being able to pursue and do what we do. Making a splash in a male-dominated field will be difficult, but that doesn't mean I won't work as hard as possible. Women and young girls need to be able to see others doing things they may not have even dreamed of. One day, I will open my fabrication shop, which will be women-dominated and empowering. We will be able to help young girls and women alike to learn about welding and other trades. The shop will be a place of hard work and educational opportunities. No one should ever feel afraid to come in and ask us for help with projects or to find information about the trades. My shop will be donating to women and girls in need of help to pursue trade careers. I believe women can and will improve the trades as more go into it. We are essential to how life runs; there wouldn't be much without women. So, all in all, women like me will join the trades, make a significant, needed difference, and encourage more lovely women to join. This scholarship allows me to pay for school and rent while I learn welding. I've worked so hard over the last few summers to save up to go to the school of my dreams—Tulsa Welding. I've made a good amount, but it's not enough to pay fully. My dad has sacrificed so much as a military man, and I don't want to make him go into debt so I can go to school. Any scholarship money I earn goes directly towards helping me get through school. Once I finish school, I can finally start making a difference in the world of welding.

I fell in love with welding very quickly. I've been intrigued by how I could create so much by welding and fabricating. I have a very creative mind, and welding is just one way that allows me to use it. I enjoy creating scrap metal art; I've made many flower art pieces and sculptures from old car parts and other metals. I'm always looking to improve and do better, no matter what. My drive comes from my desire to be the best I can be. Welding is my favorite pastime and something I can picture myself doing as a career. From the look of the arc colors to the satisfaction of laying down a good bead, welding brings me so much joy. I can't imagine doing anything else for a career besides welding. When I first got into welding, though, it was intimidating. I was one of three girls in a class with about 20-25 guys. We often were looked down on even though we tended to do better than our peers. I don't want other young girls to feel the way I did, like they're not as good as the guys. Pursuing welding means that I get to set new standards and examples for girls in trades. I want girls to look up to me and the other amazing women in the trades and see themselves being able to pursue and do what we do. Making a splash in a male-dominated field will be difficult, but that doesn't mean I won't work as hard as possible. Women and young girls need to be able to see others doing things they may not have even dreamed of. One day, I will open my fabrication shop, which will be women-dominated and empowering. We will be able to help young girls and women alike to learn about welding and other trades. The shop will be a place of hard work and educational opportunities. No one should ever feel afraid to come in and ask us for help with projects or to find information about the trades. My shop will be donating to women and girls in need of help to pursue trade careers. I believe women can and will improve the trades as more go into it. Women are essential to life; there wouldn't be much without us. So, all in all, women like me will join the trades, make a significant, needed difference, and encourage more lovely women to join.

It's hard to get out of bed when the thin covers feel like weights getting heavier by the second. My brain will turn against me and make me believe that I am nothing, that I do not deserve the things that I have worked so hard for. Living with depression and anxiety can make every day a challenging experience. Mental and physical health are so crucial to a student. If I don't feel my best, I can't be my best. Struggling with my mental health has led me down a destructive path; my grades declined a bit, and my personality changed. I wasn't myself, and that changed how I experienced school. I missed many activities due to fear of judgment and being self-conscious. My mental and physical health improved as I worked to get better. My depression never just showed up out of the blue; it was always kind of there in the back of my head, growing and growing until, before I knew it, I was not myself anymore. At one point, I was the girl who was ready to take on the world, but now I find myself fighting to get out of bed some days. I have to be nice to myself and go easy; I can't expect to be able to do everything when my mental health isn't the best. I care for myself like I would care for sick friends when my mind is in a terrible place. I get myself some snacks and water, put on a good show, and take a mind break for a minute. After recuperating my mind, I push myself to complete simple tasks such as hygiene. I do small tasks first, then build up to the more challenging items. My parents have been a big help in getting me the help I need. I have been going to see a therapist for a little over two years and have started to live a better life. I've been working to change my outlook on life and myself. Overcoming my setbacks has taken time, patience, and hard work. I will not let my difficulties hold me back from what I want to do. My coping mechanism helps not only my mental health but my physical health as well. Focusing on my breathing helps me to clear and calm my mind. Lifting and running is one of my favorite ways to boost my mood and mind. While working out, you release endorphins, which then go on to help you feel happier. I still struggle quite a bit, and I may feel like giving up, but I do not want to become one of those who ignore my predicaments. In the long run, learning to cope with my depression and anxiety has made school, as well as life, so much easier. Whenever I get the chance to, I love to educate people on depression and anxiety. I give them tips and tricks on how to cope. I also spend time explaining how depression and anxiety affect someone's life and way of being. Not all experiences are the same, but at least being able to shed light on mine can change someone's view and understanding. Talking about mental health is not the easiest, but it's a challenge I love to take on.

It's hard to get out of bed when the thin covers feel like weights getting heavier by the second. My brain will turn against me and make me believe that I am nothing, that I do not deserve the things that I have worked so hard for. Living with depression and anxiety can make every day a challenging experience. Mental and physical health are so crucial to a student. If I don't feel my best, I can't be my best. Struggling with my mental health has led me down a destructive path; my grades declined a bit, and my personality changed. I wasn't myself, and that changed how I experienced school. I missed many activities due to my fear of judgment and being so self-conscious. As I worked to get better, my mental health and physical health improved. My depression never just showed up out of the blue; it was always kind of there in the back of my head, growing and growing until, before I knew it, I was not myself anymore. At one point, I was the girl who was ready to take on the world, but now I find myself fighting to get out of bed some days. I have to be nice to myself and go easy; I can't expect to be able to do everything when my mental health isn't the best. I care for myself like I would care for sick friends when my mind is in a terrible place. I get myself some snacks and water, put on a good show, and take a mind break for a minute. After recuperating my mind, I push myself to complete simple tasks such as hygiene. I do small tasks first, then build up to the more challenging items. My parents have been a big help in getting me the help I need. I have been going to see a therapist for a little over two years and have started to live a better life. I've been working to change my outlook on life and myself. Learning to overcome my setbacks has taken time, patience, and hard work. I will not let my difficulties hold me back from what I want to do. My coping mechanism helps not only my mental health but my physical health as well. Focusing on my breathing helps me to clear and calm my mind. Lifting and running is one of my favorite ways to get a boost in my mood and mind. While working out, you release endorphins, which then go on to help you feel happier. I still struggle quite a bit, and I may feel like giving up, but I do not want to become one of those who ignore my predicaments. In the long run, learning to cope with my depression and anxiety has made school, as well as life, so much easier.

I fell in love with welding very quickly. I've been intrigued by how I could create so much by welding and fabricating. I have a very creative mind, and welding is just one way that allows me to use it. I enjoy creating scrap metal art; I've made many flower art pieces and sculptures from old car parts and other metals. I'm always looking to improve and do better, no matter what. My drive comes from my desire to be the best I can be. Welding is my favorite pastime and something I can picture myself doing as a career. From the look of the arc colors to the satisfaction of laying down a good bead, welding brings me so much joy. I can't imagine doing anything else for a career besides welding. When I first got into welding, though, it was intimidating. I was one of three girls in a class with about 20-25 guys. We often were looked down on even though we tended to do better than our peers. I don't want other young girls to feel the way I did, like they're not as good as the guys. Pursuing welding means that I get to set new standards and examples for girls in trades. I want girls to look up to me and the other amazing women in the trades and see themselves being able to pursue and do what we do. Making a splash in a male-dominated field will be difficult, but that doesn't mean I won't work as hard as possible. Women and young girls need to be able to see others doing things they may not have even dreamed of. One day, I will open my fabrication shop, which will be women-dominated and empowering. We will be able to help young girls and women alike to learn about welding and other trades. The shop will be a place of hard work and educational opportunities. No one should ever feel afraid to come in and ask us for help with projects or to find information about the trades. My shop will be donating to women and girls in need of help to pursue trade careers. I believe women can and will improve the trades as more go into it. We are essential to how life runs; there wouldn't be much without women. So, all in all, women like me will join the trades, make a significant, needed difference, and encourage more lovely women to join.