Leadership is characterized by being proactive, dependable, disciplined, and respectful in all that you do. It's about striving to do your best for those around you at all times and learning from mistakes. True leadership is about setting an example, serving others before yourself, and bringing out the best in people through dedication, empathy, and integrity. Every day, I strive to improve- whether I am collaborating in academic projects or structured training environments- by motivating those around me by not only being the best role model I can be, but also through clear communication, accountability, and teamwork. I have learned that leadership is not about giving orders-but rather leading a team towards a shared goal. Resilience is something that is constantly being tested in my daily life. Balancing a double major and minor while maintaining a GPA, having a part-time job, earning my private and instrumental pilots licenses, training for my EMT certification, improving my fitness, and maintaining my relationships all demand discipline and mental toughness. There are some days when fatigue hits or a setback occurs, but through those days, with discipline, I adapt and stay focused on my goals. Selflessness is another value I strive to embody. In both flight training and emergency response scenarios, personal ambition must always come second to the safety and success of the team. I take pride in supporting others-whether it is helping my teammates and classmates improve, staying calm under pressure, taking advice and criticism from others, or making sure that everyone feels heard and valued. My days are built around focus, drive, and a commitment to constant improvement and my goals. I plan out each day with intention, staying committed to my academic and personal goals, while also prioritizing my relationships with family, friends, and community. My drive keeps me committed to my responsibilities while training physically and mentally for a career that demands precision and endurance. No matter how challenging my path becomes, I remain determined to follow through with purpose and integrity. My work ethic guides everything I do. From maintaining high academic performance to committing fully to flight school and EMT training, I hold myself to the highest standards. I believe that perseverance transforms ambition into achievement, and I aim to embody that principle in every task I take on. My future goals include earning a Ph.D in biological engineering, serving in the U.S. Navy as a naval aviator, and eventually working for NASA to help engineer life for space environments, and continue to serve my community and country through flight and emergency response. I am pursuing my degree because I intend to combine science, engineering, and service to make a tangible difference in the world around me.

Ever since I was little, I have been driven by a desire to test the limits and make an impact in everything I do. As I have grown older and found new passions, that same drive has been carried into each of them, shaping the goals and paths I have chosen. I am pursuing a dual-major in Medical Sciences and Criminology, with minors in Aerospace Studies and Journalism, while preparing to serve in the U.S. Navy as a pilot and eventually earn my Ph.D in Bioengineering. This journey is more than academic-it is something I am passionate about. Through medical science, I am learning the intricacies of the human body-knowledge. I hope to understand and protect the human body to engineer safer and more resilient systems for humans in extreme environments, such as space. Criminology is an area of study that will give me a broader understanding of human behavior, ethics, and systems of justice, always reminding me that science should always be an effort to serve people. Aerospace studies connects my love for flight and planes with my long-term goal of becoming a naval aviator, and my journalism minor keeps me grounded in the art of communication-because the ability to explain complex ideas clearly is just as powerful as the idea itself. Outside of academics, my life is full of things that fuel my passions. I am currently working on my EMT certification, which I will have by January 2026, after which I plan to apply to the fire academy, from which I will graduate in June 2026. These experiences will further tune my ability to act under pressure, to be decisive, and help me stay focused on helping others. These experiences will also mirror the leadership and qualities needed in aviation and the military. I am also earning my private and instrumental pilots' license, balancing flight school, EMT coursework, university coursework, with a part-time job and a social life. It is certainly a demanding schedule, but it challenges me to grow, stay disciplined, and remain motivated by the goals that matter most to me. I am applying for this scholarship because it would allow me to devote more of my energy to my studies and services rather than worrying about the financial weight of tuition, flight hours, and living expenses. The support would make it possible for me to continue growing as a student, a pilot, and a community member. I would also allow me to maintain balance between my responsibilities and the relationships that keep me grounded, family, friends, and teammates. Every day, I am reminded that progress takes courage, discipline, and compassion. This scholarship would not only support me in my education but also strengthen my ability to serve others, whether it be on the ground, in the air, on the sea, or beyond our atmosphere.

2024-2025 (Current Year): - Continue online studies at the University of Idaho, working towards your degrees in biological engineering and medical science. - Continue living in Spain and travel around Europe and immerse myself in different cultures. - Prepare application for transfer to the University of Washington (U of W) for the upcoming semester. - Start applying for scholarships for the 2025-2026 schoolyear at University of Washington - Apply for Univeristy of Washingtons Purple and Gold Scholarship *Currently, I don’t have any tuition cost at University of Idaho. My scholarship with the University and the state completely cover my tuition.* 2025-2026 (Transfer to U of W): - Participate in a summer internship program, specifically NASA Student Airborne Research Program (SARP) - Start my sophomore year at U of W with a focus on my major in biological engineering and medical science, while continuing my Spanish minor. - Work on walking onto the University of Washington soccer team. - Maintain excellent grades (A’s) to be eligible for further scholarships. - Take advantage of the Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium that offers scholarships, fellowships, internships and more for degrees in science and engineering. - During this school year and next I will be researching scholarship and financial aid options, applying for any available to reduce the $41,000 tuition cost of around $20,000. 2026-2027 (Summer and Study Abroad Plans): - Take summer courses, possibly through a study abroad program, to accelerate graduation and travel the world. I will apply for study abroad specific scholarships, to help cover the cost of - participating in the program. - Plan to graduate by the end of my third year, aiming for a both degrees complete within 3 years. *Estimate total tuition costs for U of W to be around $82,000; I aim to cover this with a mix of scholarships, a part-time job, and personal savings.* 2027-2032 (Graduate School and PhD Pursuits): - After completing my undergraduate degree, apply to top graduate programs for a PhD in biomedical engineering, focusing on prestigious universities like Duke or Emory. - Begin PhD studies, typically lasting 5-6 years. - Engage in internships, especially with NASA, to gain hands-on experience in the biomedical field. *A PhD in Biomedical Engineering can cost upwards of $160,000. To help offset this cost I plan to use financial aid, apprenticeships, and teaching positions to support myself through this time.* 2032-2035 (PhD Completion and Post-Grad Career): - Complete my PhD in biomedical engineering. - Apply for positions as a biomedical engineer at NASA, and explore opportunities to become an astronaut. - Start my career at NASA or another space exploration company, with an average salary of $100,000/year. - Begin paying off student loans and focus on building savings and investments. 2027 and Beyond (Personal Growth and Financial Goals): Buy my first home by the age of 24, possibly in a location that allows you to rent it as an Airbnb. Invest in more real estate, purchasing properties to rent and build my portfolio over time. This will allow me to have multiple forms of income, whether it be through my part-time job, investments, or properties. In General: Through this time, I also hope to my take trips with friends and family, whether they be small roadtrips or large international trips. I want to experience college, with a big group of friends where we go to sports games, parties, and travel together. Main Goal: Love my life. To experience everything I can-the good and the bad, all the while pursuing my passion and maintaining my sense of self.

My path in healthcare is a unique one- one that I hope will make a meaningful difference in the world. I have chosen to take a path in biomedical engineering, striving to harness technologies like CRISPR-Cas9 to transform medicine as we know it. I aim to develop treatments to prevent genetic cancers, like pancreatic, breast, and testicular cancer. Another goal of mine, through this career, is to aid humankind's venture into space by modifying the human genome to not only help us survive, but thrive in space’s extreme environments. This dream of mine did not come out of nowhere. I got my first introduction to genetics in my sophomore biology class. Genetics had captivated me, and I excelled in it, quickly sparking a passion for it. Similarly, my fascination with space dates back to when I was a little girl. I have dreamed about venturing into the cosmos- whether it be in a spaceship, or by solving complex equations, ideas, and phenomena. The core of these aspirations is my love for helping people. It is a trait I can dedicate to my parents; My mother, who is a family practice doctor, has shown me the value of kindness and empathy, and my father, an entrepreneur, constantly dedicates himself to helping people become better humans through pushing their physical and mental threshholds. Growing up around such people has made me who I am, and has shaped the values and passion I hold. They have built a strong foundation of compassion, which drives me to pursue a career that impacts lives in profound ways, as they do. My personal experiences have also played a large role in shaping my ambitions. My grandmother, one of the most selfless people I have ever known, and whom I consider my childhood best friend, passed in 2020 had a long battle with breast cancer. She had taught me Portuguese, how to cook and bake, and how to make jewelry. Many of my most treasured memories are with her- my little sister will never get to make the same memories. Knowing that I have a high risk of getting breast cancer someday-that my sister and future daughter may face similar risks- drives my commitment towards finding cures for cancer. My mother's recent diagnosis of intracranial hypertension, a genetic disease that causes that causes migraines, blindness, memory loss, and even death, has only reinforced my commitment. As a woman in the STEM field, I am bound to come across hardships that include gender inequality and societal biases. These are obstacles that I refuse to let deter me, however. They fuel my resolve to break barriers and open doors, not just for myself but for the women who come after me. By facing these challenges with confidence, resilience, and passion, I hope to pave to way for others to pursue their passions without prejudice and outdated rules.