This photo represents a fight I didn’t choose but chose to rise from. In this image, I’ve gathered six objects that hold the core of my journey, where I’ve been, what I’ve done, and where I’m going. There’s a stuffed toy I’ve had for over 13 years. He’s been with me through every hospital stay during two separate cancer diagnoses and the exhausting years of chemo, recovery, and setbacks. Next to him are some of the hospital bracelets I wore through those treatments. They don’t just represent survival they represent everything I had to fight through: fear, fatigue, falling behind. But they also remind me that I made it through. In front of them, I’ve placed a few of my TSA awards. Through the Technology Student Association, I’ve designed prototypes, and competed in events such as biotechnology, problem solving, and board game design earning recognition at regional and state levels. TSA helped me grow into a confident student and a STEM leader, stepping into roles like club Secretary and then President. Beside the awards is my notebook where I sketch ideas for things I want to build: assistive tech for the blind, environmental robotics, and simple tools that solve everyday problems. Some are half-formed; others I’ve already tested. This notebook proves I’m not just dreaming about engineering I’m actively building it into my life. Behind it all is the acceptance sign from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where I’ll major in mechanical engineering. I’ve also been accepted to Baylor, one of the most selective schools I applied to. These letters are more than just good news they’re milestones I never thought I’d reach after everything I’ve gone through. And all of these items lay upon my National Honor Society stole a small but meaningful symbol of the service hours I’ve given back to my community. Whether raising funds for autism awareness as apart of the Luv Micheal program, donating art for a cancer fundraising event, speaking publicly to promote a camp for patients and survivors like me, or logging over 80 services hours for my school, I’ve always tried to give where I can. The stole grounds the photo just as that work grounds who I’m becoming not just a builder of devices, but a builder of impact. This photo holds everything: my childhood, my struggles, my growth, and my future. Every item carries a layer of meaning, but together, they tell the full story of a two-time childhood cancer survivor who became an engineer-in-progress. I want a STEM education not just to build cool things but to build solutions that help people. I know what it’s like to feel overlooked, disconnected, and discouraged. That’s why I want to design tech that brings people closer to stability, health, and possibility whether it’s a smarter walking cane or a robot that cleans up our streets. I’ve come a long way from hospital rooms to state competitions, from a scared kid holding a stuffed toy to an accepted future mechanical engineer. And I’m just getting started. This scholarship would help prevent adding to my single mom’s apparent financial burden from covering living expenses and ongoing medical costs, so I can pursue my education without increasing the sacrifices my mom already makes. It’s more than money; it’s the freedom to keep moving forward, not just surviving, but thriving. Because I’m not here to build just for the sake of it. I’m here to build a life of purpose.

As a two-time cancer survivor, I know the transformative power of community support. The love and kindness I received not only helped me survive but inspired me to give back. Over the years, I’ve donated art to cancer-related auctions, shared my story through local news, and publicly spoke to promote a camp for cancer survivors and patients. These experiences have given me a deep sense of purpose, showing me how much a single person’s efforts can impact others. In addition to these efforts, I’ve accumulated over 80 service hours, participating in clean-ups and volunteering for local initiatives. As an aspiring engineer, I want to combine my commitment to service with my passion for creating solutions. I first challenged myself in the Rise Competition, where I developed M-bot, a robot designed to autonomously clean up litter. This project, alongside my team’s research on tire microplastics with the Technology Student Association, reflects my goal to use engineering to create sustainable solutions that help both people and the planet. The Crawley Kids Scholarship would help me further my education, allowing me to build technologies that not only serve my community but give the Earth a second chance just like the one I’ve received.

I’ve been fighting for my future since I was four years old. That’s when I was first diagnosed with leukemia, fighting it again at eight. My childhood was a blur of hospital rooms, cognitive decline, and missed milestones. But what I remember most isn’t the pain it’s the people who showed up for me: peppy nurses, counselors who brought crafts, and a community that held me together when everything else felt like it was falling apart. That’s where my purpose was born not just to survive, but to give back, to build something better for people, for the planet, for anyone who needs a little extra help. Throughout my life, I’ve found ways to give back. I’ve donated art to cancer auctions, shared my story to raise awareness, and spoken publicly about a camp for cancer patients and survivors. I’ve also completed over 80 hours of community service for my school. Giving back has always been a part of who I am, and now, I want to take that same drive into engineering, where I can serve others not just through words, but through invention and impact. I’m 17 years old with a 3.98 GPA and a mission: to become a mechanical engineer who creates real-world solutions for real-world problems. One of those problems is accessibility. I’ve been sketching out an innovative walking stick for the blind that uses voice-activated features, designed to guide users with greater confidence. I believe assistive technology has incredible power to restore independence and dignity, and I want to be part of designing that future. I’m also invested in environmental sustainability because I want to find a way to clean our earth through technology. As part of my school’s Technology Student Association, my team reached the state level in biotechnology, researching the impact of microplastics and potential solutions. That project opened my eyes to the scale of the crisis and the opportunity for engineers to lead the charge in fighting it. I’ve already started working toward that future. For the RISE competition, I built a modest robot designed to clean up litter using a vacuum and sweeper system. It was simple but effective, reminding me that innovation doesn’t have to be flashy to be meaningful it just has to solve a problem. Through this project, I realized the potential I have for creating solutions once I receive the education to execute them properly. But this potential is limited by one major problem: how to pay for college. My mother has raised my twin sister and me on her own since my father passed away in an accident. She’s carried us through every hospital stay and setback, and now, she’s doing everything she can to help us both attend college. But with no savings and limited income, the burden is overwhelming. Despite my academic success, I’ve received minimal aid from my college. Scholarships like this one aren’t just helpful they’re essential. With support, I could focus on my education, pursue research and internships, and continue working toward the future I’ve fought so hard to reach. Most importantly, it would allow me to pay back the support I received when I needed it most. I don’t just want to be an engineer. I want to be the kind of engineer who builds a future where no one is left behind not the disabled, not the overlooked, not our beautiful earth. I’ve fought hard to get here. Now, I’m ready to build what comes next.

For some reason, I expected a movie about a girl making amends after an unexpected death to be comical but instead the movie, “Afterlife of the Party” moved me to tears. The film follows Cassie, a young party girl who dies suddenly after slipping in the bathroom. She wakes up a year later in a space between life and the afterlife and learns she must make amends with three people in five days to move on. Cassie left Earth with unresolved pain, and her guardian angel, Val, guides her to find healing before she can reach peace. What hit me hardest was the film’s core message: make the most of life before it's too late. As a 17-year-old two-time cancer survivor, I’ve had my share of health scares—scares that could have ended my story early (God forbid). Watching Cassie’s journey made me think deeply about how fragile and uncertain life really is. Unlike her, I’ve been given another chance, and I don’t want to waste it. Growing up, I attended a camp for young cancer patients and survivors. I met kids with stories like mine some of whom are no longer here. It’s terrifying to realize how real and close death can be. Cassie was only 22 when she died, full of potential and unfinished dreams. And in that moment, I saw myself in her. I realized that I, too, have so much promise, and I can’t afford to waste a single moment. After watching “Afterlife of the Party”, I stopped taking my life and capabilities for granted. I became more intentional about how I spend my time, focusing on building meaningful relationships and working even harder toward my goal of becoming an engineer. The movie reminded me that nothing is guaranteed, so I push myself to make a lasting impact in my community and dedicate myself to my studies in a way I hadn’t before. I want to earn a degree in mechanical engineering and develop technologies that change lives. Despite everything I’ve been through, I’ve maintained a 3.98 GPA, and I’m proud of the work I’ve put in to get here. But the path forward isn’t easy. My college has awarded very little financial aid. My mother is a single parent supporting both me and my twin sister, and every dollar goes toward bills and basic needs. There’s no college fund, only my drive and determination to make this happen. Whether it’s passing unexpectedly in five years (God forbid) like Cassie, or even at 100, I want to know that I left something meaningful behind. That I used my second chance to the fullest. I carry not only my dreams but the dreams of those who didn’t survive. I want to live in a way that honors them, so when my time comes, I won’t have to worry about making amends like Cassie. I hope I’ll pass on in peace, knowing I gave this life everything I had. In memory of the campers and staff from Camp Quality and Camp Periwinkle who are no longer with us. I hope to honor your stories through mine.

I never imagined that a midnight rush to the hospital for a high fever would lead me to a life-changing experience. "Your daughter has Leukemia," those four words changed my world forever. At the age of 8, I naively thought chemo would be a quick and easy fix, and I’d return to my normal childhood soon. After all, I had already been diagnosed with cancer when I was 4, and at that point, I felt invincible, immune to the harsh realities of life. But cancer had other plans. Diagnosed with leukemia for a second time, I faced the harsh realities of the disease yet again: hair loss, hospital stays, and the extreme fatigue that followed. "Chemo brain" was one of the worst parts imagine being asked what you had for breakfast just a few hours ago and not being able to remember. Though I couldn’t recall the details of my day, I’ll never forget the look of worry and helplessness in my mom’s eyes when I couldn’t remember the simplest things. I knew I wasn’t the same anymore. Cancer robbed me of my childhood and affected my education. I struggled with fatigue and poor cognitive function, leading to falling behind in class. The deep feeling of inadequacy followed me through elementary school, as I watched my classmates thrive while I was homeschooled or caught up on missed lessons. I felt like a burden. I was convinced that I would never amount to anything, and that my dreams were slipping away. But I refused to give up. Middle school marked the beginning of my comeback. It wasn’t easy, but I worked tirelessly to regain some sense of normalcy. By the end of 9th grade, I no longer needed accommodations, and I began pushing myself further by enrolling in upper-level courses, currently I even have an outstanding GPA of 3.98! Though concentration is still a challenge, I learned to adapt and persevere. For example, even when I had a blood clot in my brain in 10th grade, that nearly causing a stroke, I returned to school the very next day after leaving the hospital. Being a two-time cancer survivor has taught me resilience, strength, and perseverance in ways that no textbook ever could. It also sparked my desire to give back. Throughout high school, I have actively contributed to my community by supporting cancer-related causes. I’ve donated artwork for auctions, delivered a speech about my journey, and I even have been featured on the news promoting cancer awareness activities. I also have 80 service hours for my school! Today, as I near the four-year mark of being cancer-free, I am proud of how far I have come and the strength I have shown. Cancer has shaped my life in ways I never expected, but it has also given me a deep sense of purpose. I know that through my education and the community I am building, I can continue to help others who are struggling with the same challenges I’ve faced. As a daughter of a single mother with no funds for college, receiving this scholarship would provide me with the opportunity to pursue my dream of becoming a mechanical engineer. Engineering has always been my passion because it combines my two favorite things: building and creating solutions that can make a real difference in people's lives. I owe this chance to the support I’ve received from my family, mentors, and the community that helped me survive. It is because of these people that I am still here today, and I want to give back by helping others in the future.

I am indebted forever. My mom had done so much for me, it would take infinite lifetimes to pay her back. To start, she is a single mom, and I know raising me was not easy. My Dad died suddenly in an accident when I was 2 and my mom had two girls to take care of. I can't imagine how hard it must have been to lose your partner and be completely defeated yet have to stay strong for two impressionable young girls. She kept us together with strength and grace, and she always made sure I had everything I needed. This is just the beginning of the story, however, because she also had another roadblock to cross. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with Leukemia at four, I know this had to be another bullet to her heart as she just lost her husband and had the possibility of losing her daughter as well. She never showed her pain, and I am thankful she was strong for both of us. I got through my battle with cancer, but sadly this was not the end of her adversity. I ended up getting cancer again at 8, but yet she again went above and beyond to take care of me. I know it hit her hard and it must have felt like the nightmare was never going to end, but she never gave up on me. She slept on tiny couches, so I would not be alone in the hospital, changed my pick line every night, and got me through some horrific side effects of the chemo. I learned a lot from my 17 years on earth with my mom, how to be strong, the importance of being kind, having a strong drive, true unconditional love, and many more. Now, with the skills she taught me, I am confident that one day, I can be the extraordinary person she is and show her my gratitude for never giving up on me or our family. I already have a great start as I was able to use this extraordinary skill set to fuel my STEM dreams. I learned how to be diligent with everything I did. I studied extremely hard and reached wonderous academic goals. I drove myself to be my best striving for perfection in everything I had done. I am graduating with a 3.9 unweighted GPA and I know this is just the beginning because I am set on having as much of an impact on the world as she had on me.

Ripping plastic off a pen for a spring, scavenging for cardboard, and immersing myself in electronics from a young age were all early signs of my true passion: engineering. Building has always been in my heart. My first memory of being a budding engineer was when my mom complained about her eyes stinging from cutting onions. I thought I could make her some goggles and immediately went to find some plastic and cardboard. I manipulated the materials to make some rather faulty goggles and gave them to my mom. It was a foolish act, but I was at most 5 and was just entering a whole new world of creation and innovation. Even if I was oblivious and I did not make anything of worth I still look at this memory fondly because I had just found my livelihood. At this point, I knew what I wanted to be in my life, and I consider myself to be incredibly lucky to find such a purpose at such an early age. This is because from that moment I had a lifelong dream of just building and learning for the preparation of my future. I would always think of multiple things to build. Every Christmas, I would eagerly ask for multiple robotics and science kits and I would learn as much as I could with every kit I got. I knew it was unusual to ask for such items, but gifts gave me such a warm feeling in my heart. I now realize that this warm feeling was everlasting, and a clear indication of my destiny to go into this field and accomplish wondrous things. Amputee technology, Humanoid robots, robots to aid the elderly, robots to do grueling tasks...I want to be a part of all of it. This way I would find purpose in building a multitude of machines that can create a meaningful impact on society. This drive will lead me never to lose my passion and I WILL accomplish something truly amazing.

You know what's scary math... it is everywhere. In our buildings, bridges, finances, etc. So, over the many years in school, I learned to gain an appreciation for everything Math can do. Without it the basis of everything would be destroyed. Think about a random thing like a piece of paper. As we all know we have to use trees to get paper and how does that work...through chemical processes...and what is the foundation for chemistry... MATH! The machines that also produce the paper were engineered with math as well. And don't forget the dimensions of paper, how would we get multiple pages of the same size without math! Beside the significance math why do I love it specifically. Well, I love how there is always a way to get the right answer and you usually know when you are wrong. You can plug things back in equations and see if they work out or simply do the problem again and see if you get the right answer again. In this way math is less up for interpretation because there is only one right answer. That makes it easy for me because I love when I can solve a problem and get a clear answer. On top of that I love money. Math is a part of that too whether it is adding up costs or savings, calculating taxes and tips, or even figuring out interest rates. Understanding math can help you earn money, and I would not mind being rich. Lastly math is a part of my future career in STEM. I want to become an engineer, so of course I got to love math. Whether I am calculating trusses, figuring out gear ratios, or maybe using some multiplication/division for Ohm's law, math is going to be there helping me be the best engineer I can be. So, I will continue learning and hope one day I can use math to make the world a better place.

I ASPIRE to be an engineer one day. I consider myself to be incredibly lucky to find such a purpose at such an early age, now I have a dream of just building and learning for the preparation of my future. These days I would think of multiple things to build. I asked for multiple robotics and science kits and worked my way up from there. I would learn as much as I could with every kit I bought and every Christmas I would ask for something to help me make more creations. I knew it was weird to ask for things like a pack of duct tape or bearings, but these things made me have a warm feeling in my heart. Using this spark, I know that I want to build things to help people one day. I have already come up with a lot of ideas and I keep them in a notes tab on my phone. From making a better walking stick for the blind with a voice to something to attach to cups to help them from falling off tables. I have even entered into the RISE competition this year with a little prototype of a robot that can help clean up trash called M-bot. These is the main reason why I want to have the best education from hopefully a bachelor’s degrees in mechanical or electrical engineering so one day I will have the knowledge to build all my great ideas. Even better I can help other companies work on projects and machines to make our world a better place. There are tons of problems to be solved and I want…no am DESPERATE to try to get out there and help solve them. I already know I have a good start on my engineering journey as I was able to make a lot of interesting things to my heart’s content. Three Rube Goldberg machines, a cardboard house, multiple robots from kits, and many more. I spent summers building a range of objects and have many memories that will help shape me to be a great engineer one day. I even have an inventor's notebook filled with things I learned and made in the summer of 2020. Today I have 4 years of engineering classes, I am involved in all my school STEM clubs, and I am a great student with a 3.97 GPA. Not to mention I was the only girl in my engineering class and was able to go to state for Technology Student Association this year along with only 4 other students from the school (which I was the secretary for and was elected to be president for next year). I am so proud of everything I did and have created and that I put so much work toward my passion, I know it is going to pay off and this scholarship can help be one step towards this because it will help me go to an amazing college and get a degree to help me become who I want to be. A woman of the world, building a better world.

I ASPIRE to be an engineer one day. I consider myself to be incredibly lucky to find such a purpose at such an early age, now I have a dream of just building and learning for the preparation of my future. These days I would think of multiple things to build. I asked for multiple robotics and science kits and worked my way up from there. I would learn as much as I could with every kit I bought and every Christmas I would ask for something to help me make more creations. I knew it was weird to ask for things like a pack of duct tape or bearings, but these things made me have a warm feeling in my heart. Using this spark, I know that I want to build things to help people one day. I have already come up with a lot of ideas and I keep them in the note's app on my phone. From making a better walking stick for the blind with a voice to something to attach to cups to help them from falling off tables. I have even entered into the RISE competition this year with a little prototype of a robot that can help clean up trash called M-bot. These is the main reason why I want to have the best education from hopefully a bachelor’s degrees in mechanical or electrical engineering so one day I will have the knowledge to build all my great ideas. Even better I can help other companies work on projects and machines to make our world a better place. There are tons of problems to be solved and I want…no am DESPERATE to try to get out there and help solve them. I already know I have a good start on my engineering journey as I was able to make a lot of interesting things to my heart’s content. Three Rube Goldberg machines, a cardboard house, multiple robots from kits, and many more. I spent summers building a range of objects and have many memories that will help shape me to be a great engineer one day. I even have an inventor's notebook filled with things I learned and made in the summer of 2020. Today I have 4 years of engineering classes, I am involved in all my school STEM clubs, and I am a great student with a 3.97 GPA. Not to mention I was the only girl in my engineering class and was able to go to state for Technology Student Association this year along with only 4 other students from the school (which I was the secretary for and was elected to be president for next year). I am so proud of everything I did and have created and that I put so much work toward my passion, I know it is going to pay off.

I ASPIRE to be an engineer one day. I consider myself to be incredibly lucky to find such a purpose at such an early age, now I have a dream of just building and learning for the preparation of my future. These days I would think of multiple things to build. I asked for multiple robotics and science kits and worked my way up from there. I would learn as much as I could with every kit I bought and every Christmas I would ask for something to help me make more creations. I knew it was weird to ask for things like a pack of duct tape or bearings, but these things made me have a warm feeling in my heart. Using this spark I know that I wanna build things to help people one day. I have already come up with a lot of ideas and I keep them in a notes tab on my phone. From making a better walking stick for the blind with a voice to something to attach to cups to help them from falling off tables. I have even have entered into the RISE competition this year with a little prototype of a robot that can help clean up trash called M-bot. These is the main reason why I want to have the best education from hopefully a bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering so one day I will have the knowledge to build all my great ideas. Even better I can help other companies work on projects and machines to make our world a better place. There are tons of problems to be solved and I want…no am DESPERATE to try to get out there and help solve them. I already know I have a good start on my engineering journey as I was able to make a lot of interesting things to my heart’s content. Three rube Goldberg machines, a cardboard house, multiple robots from kits, and many more. I spent summers building a range of objects and have many memories that will help shape me to be a great engineer one day. I even have an inventor's notebook filled with things I learned and made in the summer of 2020. Today I have 4 years of engineering classes, I am involved in all my school STEM clubs, and I am a great student with a 3.97 GPA. Not to mention I was the only girl in my engineering class and was able to go to state for Technology Student Association this year along with only 4 other students from the school (which I was the secretary for and was elected to be president for next year). I am so proud of everything I did and have created and that I put so much work toward my passion, I know it is going to pay off.