In elementary school, I would cry if I had to miss gymnastics practice. Even though I’d come home covered in chalk, my hair a tangled mess, and sweat dripping off my face, I counted the minutes until the next practice. Gymnastics, soccer, and swimming defined my life for over a decade, teaching me to value my mental strength, work ethic, and steady personal growth. Entering high school, I decided to retire from gymnastics, freeing up 25+ hours a week to pursue new endeavors. I filled my schedule with challenging classes, volleyball, soccer, and track. I felt invincible, proudly embracing this big transition. Unfortunately, my invincibility didn’t last. That spring, my left knee started to hurt. For weeks I tried rest and strengthening exercises, but the pain only worsened until I couldn’t even straighten my leg. An MRI revealed I had a tumor, it was pigmented villonodular synovitis. I required surgery and three months away from the most important part of my life, sports. The two months before my surgery were filled with anxiety, and my fears were realized when by the start of my sophomore year I still couldn't run or jump without pain. I struggled with my newly wide-open schedule for weeks. Until, one day, as I ruminated over what I’d be doing if my knee was healthy, I realized I needed to control what I could and give my life purpose. Determined, I pursued new service, social, and academic opportunities. Using my work ethic forged by gymnastics, I expanded my Girl Scout Gold Award project to boldly deliver six one-hour presentations. I joined my school’s Science National Honor Society, employing the patience cultivated during countless all-day swim meets to guide elementary students through science experiments. I dug deeper into my interest in STEM with experiences in COSMOS and JPL’s Space Academy. These programs not only helped me grow socially but also solidified my choice to pursue engineering. With each of these exploits, I found new communities and passions while learning that there are opportunities all around me. I realized that the years I spent as a multisport athlete were not a waste, but rather provided me with conviction, values, and skills I can apply to everything. Still, I missed sports and decided to try water polo, hoping a non-impact sport would be my path back. The water was both stabilizing and freeing. My legs got stronger, finally ending my pain. I regained my athletic identity, merging it with my newfound passions, giving me physical and mental balance. My journey as a student-athlete has been a complicated one, but upon reflection, the past three years of water polo and swimming have shaped my career goals. Engineering requires lots of problem-solving, and my journey has given me the confidence that I can persevere through any problem. Becoming a water polo team captain this year has inspired me to dream of being a leader in engineering, collaborating to push the boundaries of science for the betterment of our world. Sports has been one of the biggest parts of my life and in college I plan to join several club sports wherever I go. Being an athlete gives me a healthy outlet and makes me a better student, I can't wait for a lifetime of sports and engineering, where my passion for both will fuel a successful career and balanced life.

I first discovered engineering in my elementary GATE program building Rube Goldberg machines and marshmallow towers. At home I'd be constantly found in a pile of Legos, not following the directions but seeing what I could create. “Take Your Child to Work” days with my mom at JPL inspired me further as I saw the Perseverance rover and control rooms. Seeing firsthand how engineers turn the seemingly impossible into reality, I knew I wanted to innovate new ways to explore the frontier of space and help answer some of humanity’s biggest unanswered science questions. This early passion grew with advanced STEM classes and engineering programs in high school. At Boston University’s 2023 Summer Challenge, I took computer science and electrical engineering classes. In JPL’s 2023 International Space Academy, my group spent three months designing, building, and testing a projectile launcher. I researched materials and their properties, utilized my new soldering skills, and calculated equations of motion to predict our payload’s maximum height. These experiences showed me the rewards of creative problem-solving, taught me more about collaboration, and solidified my choice to pursue aerospace engineering. Once I've earned my degree, I hope to work on projects that further humanity's knowledge of the universe, whether those projects go deep into space or remain here in our atmosphere. The subfield I'm currently most interested in is teams of heterogeneous robots that interact autonomously. The possibility of flying emergency vehicles that respond to each other, saving people and keeping first responders out of harm's way is incredibly intriguing as it would help thousands. Beyond specific projects, I look forward to being a life-long learner, building off of others' solutions and collaborating to create new ones that push the boundaries of science for the benefit of society. I believe I will be successful in reaching these goals because of my determination and experience. As a lifelong athlete, I have learned to persevere through challenges and work as hard as I can to reach my goals. This mindset will allow me to overcome personal, educational, and career challenges to achieve my dreams. One big obstacle I've faced in my education that will continue to be a prevalent issue in my future is being a woman in STEM. This year I am 1 of 2 girls in my AP computer science class and 1 of 7 in my AP physics class. Particularly in physics, I was afraid to speak up at the start of the year and felt my voice was drowned out by the more confident boys in group work and labs. But by staying determined and studying with other girls in the class, we all became more confident and are now active contributors in class, we are never pushed to the side. I know being a girl and a member of the LGBTQ community will present challenges in the future, but with this experience, I know that facing the issue confidently, head-on, and as soon as possible will spell my success. Financial obstacles are another challenge, my family can not afford to pay full tuition and housing fees at any four-year university. Without scholarships, I'll have to get a job or two in college to help pay for my education which will limit the time I have to study, be involved in research, and dedicate to engineering clubs. Despite this possibility, I'm working hard to find scholarships and I'm committed to excelling academically and professionally. I can't wait to push the boundaries of science and work with others to improve our world, making my dreams a reality.