I believe I should be considered for this scholarship because my academic journey reflects persistence, discipline, and a commitment to using education not only for personal growth, but to create opportunities for others. I am currently graduating in May with my Bachelor’s degree in Game Programming from the University of the Incarnate Word, where I have maintained a 4.0 GPA while entering the program with no prior experience in coding. In August, I will continue my education by beginning a Master’s degree in Computer Science. My academic path has been defined not by an easy start, but by consistent effort to grow into a field that was entirely new to me and where people like me were underrepresented. When I first entered my program, I was the only female in my year and surrounded by classmates with prior programming experience. At first, this was intimidating, but it also became motivating. I quickly learned that success in this field would require not only intelligence, but discipline and resilience. Over time, I pushed myself to understand difficult concepts, improve my skills, and prove to myself that I belonged in the space I had entered. That effort led me to become a top-performing student in not one, but six of my programming courses. I don’t share this to brag, but to share how proud I am of breaking multiple barriers. One of my most meaningful academic accomplishments was being hand-selected by my professors to serve as a programming tutor. In this role, I supported both peers and underclassmen. While I helped with coursework, my focus was always on helping students truly understand the material so they could build confidence in their abilities. Many of the students I worked with were struggling not only with programming concepts, but with self-doubt. I learned that part of teaching is not just explaining code, but helping someone believe they are capable of learning it. Outside of academics, I have remained actively involved in leadership and service. I have participated in my church community since childhood, beginning at the age of six, where I served in volunteer roles and supported family and youth programs. These experiences taught me early on that leadership is not about position, but about responsibility and consistency in helping others. My journey has also been shaped by significant personal and financial challenges. I come from a low-income family of eight in which my father is the sole provider. Throughout my college career, my family has relied on assistance programs such as Medicaid and SNAP, and we have faced ongoing financial strain, especially with the cost of multiple children in college at the same time. My father was also diagnosed with kidney cancer and experienced a period of unemployment, which created additional emotional and financial pressure on our household. At the same time, I have managed my own health challenges, including chronic conditions such as eczema, asthma, and amblyopia, which have required persistence and adaptability throughout my education. Despite these obstacles, I have remained committed to my academic goals and continued to excel in my studies. One of the greatest challenges I faced during school was learning to navigate a demanding technical field without prior preparation or external academic support. I had to develop effective study habits, seek help when needed, and teach myself how to approach complex problems step by step. Over time, I learned that asking for help was not a weakness, but a necessary part of growth. As someone who absolutely loves learning and has a strong desire to grow, I'm now constantly asking questions and seeking answers to deepen my understanding and expanding my technical skill set. This mindset shift allowed me to overcome early uncertainty and eventually succeed academically at a high level. Through these experiences, I’ve developed a strong sense of purpose. I’m especially passionate about using computer science to develop tools that improve access to education and support learning in more personalized ways, particularly for students who come from underrepresented or under-resourced backgrounds. I hope to contribute to AI-driven learning systems and simulation tools that help make complex subjects more accessible. More importantly, I want to continue mentoring others. I know what it feels like to be in an environment where you are uncertain if you belong, and I want to help change that experience for future students. Whether through tutoring, mentorship, or future professional roles, I am committed to creating pathways for others to succeed. I believe I should be considered for this scholarship not only because of my academic performance, but because of the way I have consistently turned challenges into motivation. My experiences have shaped me into someone who values resilience, education, and service to others. I plan to carry those values forward as I continue my education and work toward a career in computer science.

Cancer has affected my family in deeply personal way, shaping not only our circumstances but also the way I understand resilience, responsibility, and purpose. Growing up, I witnessed the impact of cancer. I lost several grandparents and my godmother. However, nothing prepared me for the moment my father, my role model and our family’s sole provider, was diagnosed with kidney cancer. That moment changed everything. As a family of eight relying on a single income, my father’s diagnosis brought emotional and financial uncertainty into our home. There was a period when he was unable to work, and I watched my parents carry the weight of that reality while still trying to provide stability for all of us. This impacted me on a new level, watching my parents struggle while my dad was unemployed and fighting cancer motivated me even more to pursue a degree in higher education. There was nothing I can physically do for my father but pray, so I focused on serving others and making a difference where I could. For me, this was in our church community. Growing up in a large family, I have always felt called to serve and lead. Being the oldest of six kids has helped me develop the communication and leadership skills that I would use to make a difference in our church community. One moment that stayed with me was seeing my father continue to encourage me academically, even while going through treatment and uncertainty himself. Despite everything he was facing, he never allowed me to lose focus on my goals. That perspective shifted something in me. I realized that strength is not just about enduring hardship, but about continuing to pour into others even when you are struggling. That example pushed me to hold myself to a higher standard in both my academics and how I support those around me. Instead of allowing fear to consume me, I chose to focus on what I could do to help. I became more intentional about supporting my family and serving others. I deepened my involvement in my church community, stepping into roles where I could help and bring a sense of stability to others, even while my own life felt uncertain. Serving in the nursery, helping families, and being present for others gave me a sense of purpose during a time when everything else felt out of my control. I learned that life will give us circumstances that will sometimes set us apart from others but it's using these circumstances to help better ourselves that is most important. Watching my father fight through his diagnosis, while continuing to support our family, inspired me to approach my own goals with greater determination. I understood more clearly that success is not just personal, it is something that can support and uplift the people around you. Through this experience, I have learned to shift my focus. In life, there will always be challenges, setbacks, and moments of darkness, but there is also the opportunity to create light within those moments. We may not choose our obstacles, but we can choose how we grow from them. For me, that has meant choosing resilience, choosing service, and choosing to keep moving forward. Cancer has impacted my family in ways that are both painful and transformative. While it brought uncertainty and hardship, it also revealed the strength within my family and within myself. It taught me that even in the most difficult moments, there is purpose to be found and that purpose can shape the person you become.

Education is often overlooked by young people. Some may believe that school is boring and useless, but the truth is we need education to get us through life and around in the world. Education is valuable, the higher our education the more others understand how hardworking and dedicated we are to our professions and the likelihood of us getting hired by great businesses increases. Education is very important to me; it is the gateway to many great opportunities. At 3 months old. I was diagnosed with severe eczema. My mom quit her job to stay home with. By the time I started Kindergarten, I was suffering from a speech development, asthma and amblyopia along with a severe case of RSV and pneumonia. It didn't affect me as much as it would had my mom not stepped up and pulled me out of public school to home school me. I loved learning and I never let these ailments hold me back. Homeschooling helped me to go above and beyond in my academics without any bullying or struggles. I learned that life will give us circumstances that will sometimes set us apart from others but it's using these circumstances to help better ourselves that is most important. My father is my inspiration. He is a very smart man and a graduate of TSTC. When my father was diagnosed with kidney cancer last year was the day I felt like my life stood still was. My father has always inspired me. I am the most like my father, and we have always been very close. He inspires and encourages me to excel in everything that I do. My father is our primary source of income in our home, without him, our way of life would change. This impacted me on a new level. As a large family of 8, things were always challenging in our home, both physically and financially but watching my parents struggle while my dad was unemployed and fighting cancer motivated me even more to pursue a degree in higher education. Education looked different for me as a child but I was able to receive one-on-one assistance from my parents, allowing me to be more productive and excel in my academics, pursue high honors and receive an acceptance into UIW with a presidential scholarship. Attending a private university will be financially difficult and would be impossible for me without grants and scholarships like these but it is my mission to give 110% to increase my chances and finance my education. My priority is to continue my academic achievements to show my gratitude.

Ever since I was little, I loved to draw. Later on down the line, as I furthered my drawing skills, I learned how to animate as well. My biggest inspiration for pursuing these interests is my father. Growing up, I had always seen the detailed drawings he would make. My father introduced me to the shows and movies that he watched when he was young. It was these shows that inspired me to follow through learning to draw and animate. I developed my skills in these fields in many different ways. Since I am mostly self-taught, a majority of my knowledge comes from studying other works. When I was younger, I would pause and study frames in my favorite movies and shows to teach myself how to draw better; I taught myself how to animate through doing this. I would also study comic panels and covers to learn how to position a figure. Now that I'm older, I have access to the internet. I look up tips on how to draw and animate better. I do my best to put this knowledge to good use every time I get the chance. For example, I helped my uncle by designing a logo for his catering business. Although I know so much, I am still interested in furthering my education. This fall, I will be attending the University of the Incarnate Word in order for me to gain my bachelor's degree in 3D animation and Game design.