This past summer, I attended a camp during which I was provided an overview of the fields of engineering. Listening to the civil engineering session sparked an interest in me as the teacher described her specific experience in the field. During her talk, she emphasized the fact that her love for civil engineering came from the direct impact her work had on people. She told us stories about how she was able to help increase transportation accessibility for the elderly and disabled. When I think of engineers making a real impact on the world, I think about those who invent and implement systems that make people's lives safer, healthier, and happier. In my opinion, civil engineers play one of the most critical roles in the general well-being of others. Although I have much to learn about engineering, I am excited to one day use that knowledge to help others. As a young child, my family would visit our grandparents in the Philippines. Although I don’t remember much about my grandfather, I do remember his gentle and compassionate heart towards those in need. On our visits, we would go shopping for items to fill our goodie bags. After making hundreds of goodie bags filled with things like toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and toys, we would visit the orphanage. The mud floors and faces of hungry children first opened my eyes to the devastating reality of poverty. These experiences with some of the most vulnerable souls have given me a heart like my grandfather’s. I was in fifth grade when I first learned about the work of civil engineers. My friend who had just returned from doing missionary work in Kenya told our class that entire villages had never had access to safe drinking water. It broke my heart to hear that girls my age walked miles to collect water and could not attend school. Through the work of civil engineering, his team installed a water pump that provided the villagers with clean drinking water for the first time in their lives. Projects such as these have inspired me to pursue a vocation where I can contribute to creating sustainable and realistic methods to enrich people’s quality of life. Last year, I traveled to the Dominican Republic on a mission trip to support the local school. At the school, we met hundreds of children facing devastating poverty. We visited their homes and learned about the challenges they faced as a result of having no electricity or dependable healthcare system. While traveling on the paths to visit the families of some of the students, I noticed that many of the paths were easily flooded during the rainy season, making it dangerous for the students to come to school. Because many of these students could not come to school, many would be unable to graduate and, as a result, be unable to find a job paying high enough to overcome the poverty they grew up in. I mourned over the systemic poverty which controlled these people’s lives. I am still grieved by the atrocities that nearly one billion people have to face every single day, and these issues have fueled my drive to use civil engineering to play some part in fighting against it.

The years I have spent playing tennis have kindled a profound passion that extends far beyond mere physical activity. Embracing this passion has unlocked a myriad of benefits, fostering invaluable life skills and shaping me into a resilient and well-rounded individual. As a singles tennis player, the mental game is just as important, if not more important than the physical game. Over the years I have uncovered three crucial facets of the mental game that have invigorated self-enlightenment: the importance of focus, the power of self-awareness, and the value of perseverance. In every sport I have played, but especially tennis, intense concentration is required to achieve optimal performance. By practicing focus in sports, I have developed the ability to focus my mind in other areas of my life as well. For example, a three hour SAT test, though exhausting, felt almost easy in comparison to the mental and physical toll of playing a four hour match. By focusing, I have learned to conserve my mental energy and operate more efficiently. This increased productivity translates into better results in all aspects of my life. My participation in tennis has allowed me to achieve an understanding of myself that is crucial in all aspects of my life. The week before the AP European History test, I proactively chose to focus my time studying instead of playing tennis. I knew that I was getting very stressed, and that if I did attend practice that week, my stress over the test would inhibit my performance. Through the cultivation of self-awareness, I can begin to deeply understand my thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This understanding empowers me to recognize my strengths and weaknesses, set realistic goals, and make informed decisions. Perseverance has proved to be an indispensable quality in my personal achievement and athletic success. It is the ability to persist in the face of obstacles and challenges, and to maintain focus and determination even when the going gets tough. As a tennis player, there have been countless times that I have wanted to give up. However, I have learned that the most growth occurs when I continue in spite of these doubts. Perseverance has built resilience, strengthened my resolve, and has fostered a belief in my own abilities. Through perseverance, I have learned to overcome setbacks, learn from my mistakes, and develop a growth mindset that embraces challenges as opportunities for growth. It continues to empower me to stay the course, even when the path ahead seems daunting, allowing me to unlock my full potential and achieve my dreams. Tennis has been an invaluable force in my life for teaching essential skills that extend beyond the court. By playing tennis, I have developed focus, self-awareness, perseverance, and so much more. Although I may not play tennis at this level forever, I believe that the lessons I have learned have enriched my life and will help me become a more successful and fulfilled individual.

The years I have spent playing tennis have kindled a profound passion that extends far beyond mere physical activity. Embracing this passion has unlocked a myriad of benefits, fostering invaluable life skills and shaping me into a resilient and well-rounded individual. As a singles tennis player, the mental game is just as important, if not more important than the physical game. Over the years I have uncovered three crucial facets of the mental game that have invigorated self-enlightenment: the importance of focus, the power of self-awareness, and the value of perseverance. In every sport I have played, but especially tennis, intense concentration is required to achieve optimal performance. By practicing focus in sports, I have developed the ability to focus my mind in other areas of my life as well. For example, a three hour SAT test, though exhausting, felt almost easy in comparison to the mental and physical toll of playing a four hour match. By focusing, I have learned to conserve my mental energy and operate more efficiently. This increased productivity translates into better results in all aspects of my life. My participation in tennis has allowed me to achieve an understanding of myself that is crucial in all aspects of my life. The week before the AP European History test, I proactively chose to focus my time studying instead of playing tennis. I knew that I was getting very stressed, and that if I did attend practice that week, my stress over the test would inhibit my performance. Through the cultivation of self-awareness, I can begin to deeply understand my thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This understanding empowers me to recognize my strengths and weaknesses, set realistic goals, and make informed decisions. Perseverance has proved to be an indispensable quality in my personal achievement and athletic success. It is the ability to persist in the face of obstacles and challenges, and to maintain focus and determination even when the going gets tough. As a tennis player, there have been countless times that I have wanted to give up. However, I have learned that the most growth occurs when I continue in spite of these doubts. Perseverance has built resilience, strengthened my resolve, and has fostered a belief in my own abilities. Through perseverance, I have learned to overcome setbacks, learn from my mistakes, and develop a growth mindset that embraces challenges as opportunities for growth. It continues to empower me to stay the course, even when the path ahead seems daunting, allowing me to unlock my full potential and achieve my dreams. Tennis has been an invaluable force in my life for teaching essential skills that extend beyond the court. By playing tennis, I have developed focus, self-awareness, perseverance, and so much more. Although I may not play tennis at this level forever, I believe that the lessons I have learned have enriched my life and will help me become a more successful and fulfilled individual.

I was in fifth grade when I first learned about the work of environmental engineers. My friend who had just returned from doing missionary work in Kenya told our class that entire villages had never had access to safe drinking water. It broke my heart to hear that girls my age walked miles to collect water and could not attend school. Through the work of environmental engineering, his team installed a water pump that provided the villagers with clean drinking water for the first time in their lives. Projects such as these inspire me to pursue a vocation where I can contribute to creating sustainable and realistic methods to enrich people’s quality of life. My hope is that studying civil or environmental engineering at a four year university will equip me to one day do just that. While I have a heart for serving the global community wherever my work as an environmental engineer takes me, I also have a passion for knitting. Through my school club, I have used knitting to give back to the community. We often believe that we cannot make a difference unless our efforts are large in scale, but seemingly small efforts can make a huge impact if done with a genuine heart. Through knitting, I will enjoy participating in my local community while preparing for my life’s work as an environmental engineer. Perhaps my work will enable other communities to drink safe water and give girls the freedom to choose education. In my family, education has been gift that we have chosen to seize with two hands. My great-great-grandmother was born and raised in Cebu, a small province of the Philippines. One day, the very first Christian missionary came to Cebu to spread the gospel. Hearing the message, my great-great-grandmother was overjoyed by the good news of the gospel and was converted. Yearning to learn more about this religion, she was given a Bible. Unfortunately, as a woman, she was not allowed to attend school and was illiterate. However, this fact would not stop her determination to learn more about this good news. Using phonetics, she taught herself how to read and could then understand the Bible for herself. For my great-great-grandmother, education meant being able to understand the good news of the gospel. For me, education will equip me with the tools I need to make a positive impact so that others may be educated as well.

I was in fifth grade when I first learned about the work of environmental engineers. My friend who had just returned from doing missionary work in Kenya told our class that entire villages had never had access to safe drinking water. It broke my heart to hear that girls my age walked miles to collect water and could not attend school. Through the work of environmental engineering, his team installed a water pump that provided the villagers with clean drinking water for the first time in their lives. Projects such as these inspire me to pursue a vocation where I can contribute to creating sustainable and realistic methods to enrich people’s quality of life. My hope is that studying environmental engineering and science will equip me to one day do just that. I have always had a passion for math and problem-solving, but more recently I have recognized that I can use that passion to help others. For example, I have been playing tennis since I was eight, but in the past few years, I was able to use my tennis abilities to help others through teaching at-risk youth and kids with Down syndrome. Helping others gives purpose to my tennis that I would not have been able to find had I been playing only for myself. Last year, I traveled to the Dominican Republic on a mission trip to support the local school. While traveling on the paths to visit the families of some of the students, I noticed that many of the paths were easily flooded during the rainy season, making it dangerous for the students to come to school. This past summer, I learned about how civil engineers work to solve problems like these which sparked my desire to major in this field. Now, I hope to use engineering to contribute in creating means of transportation that are more accessible. While I have a heart for serving the global community wherever my work as an environmental engineer takes me, I also have a passion for knitting. Through my school club, I have used knitting to give back to the community. We often believe that we cannot make a difference unless our efforts are large in scale, but seemingly small efforts can make a huge impact if done with a genuine heart. Through knitting, I will enjoy participating in my local community while preparing for my life’s work as an environmental engineer. Perhaps my work will enable other communities to drink safe water and give girls the freedom to choose education.

Last year, I attended a camp during which I was provided an overview of the fields of engineering. Listening to the civil engineering session sparked my interest as the teacher described her specific experience in the field. During her talk, she emphasized the fact that her love for civil engineering came from the direct impact her work had on people. She told us stories about how she was able to increase transportation accessibility for the elderly and disabled. Out of all the engineering fields I learned about that week, the emphasis on helping other people sparked a desire to major in the civil engineering field. When I think of engineers making a real impact on the world, I think about those who invent and implement systems that make people's lives safer, healthier, and happier. I was in fifth grade when I first learned about the work of civil engineers. My friend who had just returned from doing missionary work in Kenya told our class that entire villages had never had access to safe drinking water. It broke my heart to hear that girls my age walked miles to collect water and could not attend school. Through the work of civil engineering, his team installed a water pump that provided the villagers with clean drinking water for the first time in their lives. Projects such as these inspire me to pursue a vocation where I can contribute to creating sustainable and realistic methods to enrich people’s quality of life. While I have a heart for serving the global community wherever my work as a civil engineer takes me, I also have a passion for tennis. Initially playing to improve my skills, I grew dissatisfied with the idea of spending so much time and effort on myself. I began to yearn for a more profound purpose in my tennis. That purpose emerged when I discovered organizations that aimed to teach tennis to children with Down syndrome and at-risk youth. I promptly volunteered to contribute my tennis expertise to these causes. Through these experiences, I realized that my tennis skills could be a vehicle for giving back to the community and making a positive impact beyond my personal gain. We often believe that we cannot make a difference unless our efforts are large in scale, but seemingly small efforts can make a huge impact if done with a genuine heart. Through tennis, I have enjoyed participating in my local community while preparing for my life’s work as a civil engineer. Perhaps my work will enable other communities to drink safe water and give girls the freedom to choose education. This past summer, I traveled to the Dominican Republic on a mission trip to support the local school. While traveling on the paths to visit the families of some of the students, I noticed that many of the paths were easily flooded during the rainy season, making it dangerous for the students to come to school. This issue made me think about the engineering camp I attended, and how civil engineers work to find solutions to situations like these. Although I still have much to learn about engineering, I am excited to one day use that knowledge to help others. In my perspective, selflessness encompasses the genuine and wholehearted giving of oneself for the betterment of others. My commitment to this ideal is evident through my volunteer work so far, but I desire to commit my life to it further by pursuing a career that allows me to help others.

After going on a quick grocery shopping run, I hopped into my car and noticed a family sitting next to the stop sign, holding signs begging for money. A son and a father came up to my window, and the father told me that he was unable to pay for medication to treat his son’s diabetes. They were on the street, desperate for anyone to help them pay for his insulin. My heart ached for this family and the situation they were in, thinking not only of the boy who had to beg for medication but also of the pain the mother and father faced from being unable to provide for their child. Despite the skepticism some may express about giving money to strangers, I chose to extend a helping hand. If there was even a small chance that their plea was genuine, my contribution could make a significant difference in the boy's life. In this way, giving others my money, time, resources, or all of the above became easier. I have been a tennis player for over half of my life now. While I initially played to improve my skills, I yearned for a more profound purpose. That purpose emerged when I discovered organizations that aimed to teach tennis to children with Down syndrome and at-risk youth. I promptly volunteered to contribute my tennis expertise to these causes. Through these experiences, I realized that my tennis skills could be a vehicle for giving back to the community and making a positive impact beyond personal gain. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a period of isolation for many, including myself. Desiring to rebuild a sense of community, I turned to a simple yet meaningful act of kindness: baking bread during quarantine and delivering it to families within my church and neighborhood. My goal was to bring comfort and connection to these families, even if only for a brief moment. In my eighteen years of experiencing abundant love and support, I have learned that some of the most profound displays of affection come in the form of small, caring gestures. These gestures not only bring solace to the recipients but also reward the giver with a sense of fulfillment. Furthermore, helping friends with their schoolwork, whether through late-night Facetime sessions or other means, exemplifies my willingness to devote my time and knowledge to come alongside friends with any challenges they may face. In my perspective, selflessness encompasses the genuine and wholehearted giving of oneself for the betterment of others. My commitment to this ideal is evident in the various ways I have extended help and support to those in need, be it through financial assistance, volunteering my time and expertise, or offering comfort through small, thoughtful gestures. I believe that embodying selflessness is not just a moral duty but a path to creating a more compassionate and connected world.

“[And] isn’t life a kind of corruption? A child is born, and the world sets in upon it” (Doerr 276). All the Light We Cannot See written by Anthony Doerr, though fictional, is a beautiful and heartbreaking depiction of the power of kindness in the hardest of circumstances. The story takes place in Germany and France between the interwar period and World War II. The reader follows a young blind French girl and an orphaned boy in Germany with an amazing engineering mind. The boy joins the Hitler youth, and throughout the story, Doerr displays the painstaking journey he takes in losing and gaining his humanity. At the end of the book, the boy makes a sacrifice for a stranger, completely ignoring the principles ingrained into his head by his years in the German military. After reading this book I was shown how much the world needs a Savior along with the beautiful things that can happen when we learn to return humanity and kindness to others. Instant Family is a film that has shown me how anything worth loving takes work to love. In the film, a couple decides to foster three children and dive headfirst into the many joys and hardships of parenthood. One of the children refused to accept her foster parents, as she had gotten used to having to look out for her two younger siblings on her own. Throughout the film, we see how love is truly a labor, and how compassion and understanding can help break down the walls of fear and abuse. Over the years Down syndrome has been nearly eradicated in some Scandinavian countries because these babies would simply be aborted. My brother, while in the womb, tested positive for Down syndrome, and the doctors advised aborting him. My parents refused to do so and my mother gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby boy. I began working with children with Down syndrome about two years ago. I have come to realize that the attention and love that this organization gives to these children is not universal. This book and this movie have helped me realize that my true passion in life is helping people, especially those who are overlooked and especially vulnerable. When I get to college I plan to pursue a major in civil engineering. I was drawn to the field when a civil engineer told me that her love for civil engineering came from the direct impact her work had on people. She told me stories about how she was able to help increase transportation accessibility for the elderly and disabled. Another reason I was drawn to civil engineering was due to the subsets available: transportation, fire protection, water resources, geotechnical, construction, environmental, etc. When I think of engineers making a real impact on the world, I think of those who invent and implement systems that make people’s lives safer, healthier, and happier. As Christians, our ultimate goal is to bring glory to God. After lots of prayer and research, I have felt God’s calling in my life to display His glory through a career in civil engineering. Works Cited Doerr, Anthony. All the Light We Cannot See: A Novel. 2014, ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BB17455800.