“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?” Martin Luther King Jr. Civic engagement aims to address public concerns and improve the quality of life of communities. Although volunteering is impactful at the individual level, community engagement accelerates the progress toward change. The church’s vast outreach to resources provides the platform needed to address multiple social issues. My involvement in my local church contributed to the service I do for my community because it helped me enhance my work ethic, instill an optimistic mindset, and develop virtues. Participating in my local church impacted the service I implemented to my community because it enhanced my work ethic. As a fourteen-year member of Prince of Peace Catholic Church, I was able to grow up in the church. I was fortunate enough to have a grandmother who had a heavy involvement in the church and made it a priority to have me accompany her. The various commitments to bible studies and prayer circles allowed me to enhance my time management, focus, and reliability. The church relied on me to show up and commit to performing the work in a timely manner without sacrificing the quality of the work. My work ethic proved my dedication to faith by the successful pursuit of receiving three Sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. Volunteering with my church influenced the service I administered to my community because it instilled an outward optimistic mindset. I enjoy working with church members due to the passion they exhibit when addressing public concerns. The drive church members have toward combating the challenges facing their communities is inspiring. They possess an insight that sees further than current circumstances. Church members know the work they initiate will continue long after them due to the strength of the community and sharing ideals. My church was very adamant about assisting issues commonly found in inner cities: homelessness, soup kitchens, donation shelters, rehabilitation centers, etc. Their persistent volunteering with local organizations fueled the unifying hope of improving the quality of life of their fellow neighbors. Joining my local church transformed the service I delivered to my community due to the nature of engagement helping me develop virtues. Working with people in dire need requires virtues that are not only critical to the quality of service offered but also important to the lasting impact on the community. People may not remember what someone does or says exactly, but people particularly remember how someone made them feel. Humility, patience, thoughtfulness, and sincerity are just a few virtues that leave a lasting impression on an individual. People should be treated as an end and not seen as fulfilling a volunteering checkbox. Everyone deserves respect and has unique experiences that can pass wisdom on to others. Meeting members of the local community at clothing drives, soup kitchens, Habitat for Humanity projects, or veteran programs not only grounded me in acknowledging my own blessings but also impacted my interactions in future interactions. My involvement in my local church gave me a solid foundation to provide honest service to my community. Regardless of where I call home, I can always engage in civic matters because every community has challenges to overcome. No two situations are the same and I am able to construct a reservoir of experiences to assist and guide me.

I have written a few essays including quotes and definitions this past month on what leadership meant to me. Although the prompts are similar, I can diversify my answer every time because of all that leadership entails. To truly capture what a good leader encompasses far exceeds a 600-word limitation. I believe good leadership positively impacts the world because people become motivated, inspired, and most importantly feel supported. Leadership is crucial to future generations because visions are created, tone is established, and performance is improved. Leadership is vital to any organization because it generates a vision. Leaders possess the high visibility to share their ideas, objectives, or mission with a multitude of people. Change is inevitable, however; it does not always occur naturally. Leaders have the unique opportunity to have insight into long-term goals and pathways to achieve those goals while tending to the feedback of their subordinates. Leadership replaces fear with confidence by utilizing active listening skills towards the concerns brought forward. A good leader depicts how the vision not only benefits the organization but also the individuals personally. My commander conveys critical information about the mission and properly delegates tasks at adequate levels. Good leadership guarantees that my safety and overall career progression are a priority as I tackle tasks and perform essential functions. Leaders are important because they set the tone for the group. Initially outlining the general attitude of a situation or place gives people a role model to mimic. As a leader, exemplifying good spirits, establishing honesty, and maintaining integrity amid change, challenges, or adversity reflect on the moods of the group. Honesty is commendable because it acknowledges limitations and flaws but more importantly values a person’s right to have awareness of current events. Honesty does not attempt to generate a false sense of security. Good leadership understands some pushback is natural, yet they refuse to waiver in their values, hence maintaining their integrity. I was employed with the Office of Sustainability at Auburn University where I thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with leadership because of the passion each staff member held towards their roles. Their passion and drive towards research, how they interacted with other organizations, and their diligent work ethic all impacted how I chose to show up every day. Lastly, leadership is pivotal to the development and progression of society. A powerful leader instills motivation in those they lead. They possess an innate ability to produce an efficient environment littered with creative individuals. Good leadership enhances the balance between applauding technical expertise and engagement efforts. Performance in an organization improves when people feel valued, see representation, and are given proper resources to excel personally and professionally. As a student intern at Eastman Chemical Company, leadership encouraged interns to participate in Employee Resource Groups. I connected with my peers over common interests while acknowledging the differences that make us unique. I established relationships with like-minded individuals who cared about advocacy and felt supported doing so during work hours because the company generated the space, resources, and people to do so. Strengthening the camaraderie amongst coworkers directly increased collaboration efforts and overall performance. Leadership is more than a position; it is a mindset encompassing moral values. Differing leadership styles integrate people’s unique skills, teaching/learning methods, and outreach to effectively influence others. Through change and improvement, leaders create a positive difference in the world. Guidance in an ever-changing world will always be of the utmost importance.

“Selfless acts are a source of profound meaning for yourself and your life,” (Ron Kaufman). There are important differences between humans that give rise to some differences in the rights that we each have. We as humans have different moral capacities, differing intellectual abilities, and varying sensitivity to the needs of others. However, equality is a moral idea; it does not depend on physical strength, intelligence, moral capacity, or similar matters. Selflessness looks past the differences of humanity by exemplifying compassion and empathy while serving others without the expectation of something in return. I capture this mentality by serving my country and maintaining my presence in community involvement. I embody selflessness by the oath I swore to serve and protect not only my country but my state. As a member of the Air National Guard, I have the unique opportunity to yes protect and defend the U.S. Constitution but primarily serve the needs of the state in which I live. I had the privilege to be on an emergency response team that assisted civil leaders during natural disasters while living in Alabama. Local enforcement can have a hard time communicating due to hurricanes or tornadoes wiping out telecommunication towers. My team and I can deploy rapid Internet Protocol (IP) and Radio Frequency (RF) capabilities to generate a trunking system that promotes interoperability between organizations. This permits fire departments, police departments, & FEMA to adequately assist the community in their response procedures. The team served as a platform to portray a selfless mindset to my fellow peers, local enforcement, and my community as a whole. I personify selflessness through the various community involvements I continue to pursue and nourish. I have moved around quite a bit in the past few years, but that has never hindered my ability to give back to others because every community has a social issue that they may be suffering from. As a student at Auburn University, I planned a trip to Memphis, TN to address education inequities crippling the youth. I partnered with non-profit organizations in Selma, AL to commemorate MLK Jr. Day with community service; ideologies of unity that he stood for. I moved to Kingsport, TN and got involved with the local United Way chapter. I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and helped construct a home for a single mother of 3. I moved to Greeley, CO and began volunteering with the local food bank to address food insecurity where their demand doubled within the last year. I helped build 1,500 backpacks to be distributed to 54 schools in the county for students who experience food insecurity on the weekends. Once I began to shift my mindset from the number of people I could help to the quality of the service I could provide, it granted me the ability to make true connections with them. Yes, some people may be in unfortunate circumstances, but that does not grant others the authority to treat them any less of a person. Maintaining a selfless mindset allows me to acknowledge people’s worth regardless of their situation. I enjoyed connecting with all of the people I encountered from my previous volunteering experiences, regardless of what I gained in return. In fact, I believe they possess valuable information and enriching wisdom that can be shared. I withhold the capability to donate my time, efforts, and resources to those who cannot afford to do the same. I enjoy getting to know citizens within my community and making an impact at the local level.

“The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers,” (Ralph Nader). A good leader maintains sustainment, but a great leader increases momentum. Leadership requires active listening and communication skills; it is a two-way street. A leader giving orders is just as important as gathering feedback from their subordinates. Leadership means to me that their ceiling is my floor; essentially, they will share all of their resources and knowledge to project and elevate me in my career. My goal in life is to have a successful civilian career that simultaneously permits me to continue my military career. As a member of the Air National Guard, I enjoy the unique opportunity to pursue both, so I can deploy my leadership skills and achieve academic pursuits. The pursuit of a B.S. in Materials Engineering with an Environmental Sustainability Studies minor is my primary civilian goal. I have experience interning with the defense agency as well as the private sector (chemical company). I enjoy the collaborative work environment, hands-on tasks, and challenging problems. My internships required focus because quality assurance ensured the safety of employees and consumers. From working on critical aircraft items to piping materials, there is a plethora of career pathways for someone within my field. Regardless, I can contribute to society and give back by assisting in today’s engineering challenges. Upon completion of my undergraduate degree, my objective is to be commissioned as an Engineer or Logistics Officer in the Air National Guard. I have had the privilege to be guided by supportive, clearheaded, and intelligent leadership. Whether an NCO or an officer, both have the ultimate responsibility to ensure the stability of their troops and promote personal and professional development. Pouring into one’s team benefits the mission and organization as a whole because people can show up as the best version of themselves knowing their work environment is healthy. Commissioning is a great opportunity to deploy my interpersonal skills, increase visibility & understanding of operations, and strengthen camaraderie across the organization. Lastly, my everyday routine consists of many habits, traits, and feelings all of which stem from my personality. I depict determination by committing to working out. This ensures I am “fight to fit” and also improves the quality of my life. I employ a strong work ethic because I must stay organized juggling multiple projects at a time and meeting deadlines. Furthermore, I utilize strong leadership and communication skills by meeting with my peers or leadership to have transparency. If I am aware a project will not meet the timeline, it is critical to communicate with my leadership and deploy leadership skills by delegating the work efficiently. I depict a selfless attitude because my work center is low-manned, creating a unique opportunity to increase my knowledge of operations outside of my direct role. Although I have my assigned duties, I must put my interests aside and help my peers in different roles to sustain the operations of the work center. I exemplify resiliency because hiccups or unplanned events occur. Determining the root cause of an issue is important to prevent reoccurrences, but it is not beneficial to get caught up in the feelings or place blame. I must be resilient, I must adapt, and most importantly move forward with my peers and take it as a learning experience.

Death of a loved one, financial issues, illness, and job loss are all hardships that I have experienced while in the pursuit of my undergraduate degree. Some form of suffering is inevitable for us as a society. Life is filled with ups and downs, and resilience is the momentum needed to progress forward. Resilience not only allows us to be present & hone in on our reality but promotes securement in our purpose. Although hardships make me resilient, I derive my resiliency from the free will that I possess. I plan to utilize my undergraduate degree in Materials Engineering with a minor in Environmental Sustainability Studies to elevate underrepresented communities out of their circumstances to receive environmental justice. Free will supplies the platform to employ resiliency. The beauty of free will is that an individual has to choose between different plausible actions willingly and underdetermined by past events. Those actions may work simultaneously with morality, however; I believe key characteristics help resiliency flourish in an individual. Experiencing hardships instilled a survivor mentality in me. Unfortunate events compelled me to develop adequate emotional regulation. When life felt as though it was spiraling out of control, I had to examine exactly what was in my control. When faced with complex problems, I had to utilize critical thinking skills and shift my perspective to generate unique solutions. I built a network of supportive people with more knowledge than I to assist me in tough times, putting my pride to the side. Lastly, the hardest characteristic to fully develop was self-compassion. To truly be resilient meant being kind not only to others but most importantly to myself. I learned to accept myself and grant myself grace for attempting new objectives. A B.S. in Materials Engineering coupled with a minor in Environmental Sustainability Studies constructs the foundation to uplift underrepresented communities. I am a team player; enjoy working with my hands; appreciate the challenge of solving complex problems. Engineering has been an interest of mine since a child and gravitated towards the curriculum. Likewise, service and volunteering have been a passion of mine from an early age. I link my influence from my grandmother. We did not grow up with much, yet that never stopped her from depicting a selfless attitude and being an active citizen in our community. Her presence in the church strengthened and extended her reach on the amount of people she could assist. Environmental justice is a career path where I can give back to my and surrounding communities. Environmental justice is a social movement to address environmental injustices such as hazardous waste, resource extraction, food deserts, and exploiting land/nature which ultimately impacts poor and marginalized communities. People have the right to sustainable, safe, and healthy environments. The quality of life should not be dependent on race, gender, sex, ethnicity, age, ability, or income. Regulations, policies, & laws should represent and respect these communities and the development and implementation of environmental initiatives. These initiatives can cause adverse health effects from all of the pollution dumped into their communities and affect generations to come. In conclusion, free will permits the mindset to cultivate resiliency. A Materials Engineering and Environmental Sustainability Studies background delivers a unique approach to addressing inequities prevalent in underrepresented communities since the Civil Rights movement. Experiencing life and the trials and tribulations fortifies the mind. Hardships foster the growth of practical wisdom and virtues.

“Patience and tenacity are worth more than twice the weight of cleverness” (Thomas Henry Huxley). The trials and tribulations of life provide the unique opportunity to develop characteristics that when deployed help the greatest good. The ability to put pride aside, take a step back, and look at the bigger picture is a valuable skill. I recently moved to Colorado on my own to continue my military career and the pursuit of my undergraduate degree and it has been the most challenging life event I have experienced yet. I demonstrated tenacity by changing my mindset, persevered by asking for help, and learned desirable attributes. I exemplified firmness by practicing self-reflection to determine the root cause of my mindset. Before the move, my mental foundation was rocky. As a college student at my first institution, my emotional intelligence sufficed but quickly deteriorated ultimately leading me to medically withdraw from school. Obtaining my degree was still a goal of mine, but I knew I had to change my scenery. I failed to realize it one cannot run from their internal conflicts. It took starting over from nothing and being on my own to truly realize the mental capacity needed to combat the obstacles. Although a victim mindset is easy to possess as is reflecting/regretting choices, I knew to propel forward I must change my mindset. There are some external factors out of my control, but I can control my attitude, feelings, and actions. Gripping my reality has allowed me to fortify my mindset, so as I transition to a new school to continue my undergraduate degree, I am equipped with the proper tools to address the challenges that come with it. I persevered through the challenge because being in an unfamiliar place alone prompted me to network. Finding somewhere to live, a job to provide the means for sustainment, and obtaining a decent quality of life was my primary focus. I enjoy critical thinking when analyzing a problem, but it is far too easy to get caught up on a particular issue. Taking a step back and shifting the perspective gives the insight needed to ask for help. As a member of the military, I know there is a plethora of resources to assist airmen in need. An organization cannot properly execute its mission if its members are not fit to fight. I knew reaching out for assistance built the transparency needed for them to adequately provide resources. Helping me get back on my feet gave me the securement needed to show up as the best version of myself and be a contributing team member. Lastly, this new challenge helped me realize practical wisdom is developed by experiencing hardships. To obtain courage I had to overcome dangers. To obtain strength I had to experience difficulties that made me stronger. To experience love I had to help those in need and be helped when in need. To obtain wisdom I had to solve complex problems. This experience allowed me to develop humility which promotes gratefulness. Moving to Colorado has challenged me in all aspects, however; overcoming this challenge has benefited not only myself but others in the long run. Regardless of my career path, I am confident in my skillset to remain resilient in the face of adversity. I have a reservoir of resources that can be distributed at any moment to help those in need. Life can quickly become busy, yet it is when one stops to appreciate the little things in life that truly matter.

“Resilience is very different than being numb. Resilience means you experience, you feel, you fail, you hurt. You fall. But you keep going” (Yasmin Mogahed). A true testament of one’s character is not how one falls but when one decides to get back up. To pull oneself out of a tough spot is hard, but asking for help when down is the greatest challenge. I recently moved to Colorado on my own to continue my military career and the pursuit of my undergraduate degree and it has been the most challenging life event I have experienced yet. Overcoming this challenge influenced my future plans because I built a foundation, networked, and developed virtuous characteristics. Moving to a new state for a fresh start helped me develop a new foundation. Before the move, my mental foundation was rocky. While a college student at my first institution, my emotional intelligence was alright but quickly deteriorated which led me to medically withdraw from school. I knew I had to change my scenery but failed to realize it was not only the external environment that needed amending. It was not until having to start over from nothing and being on my own did I truly realize the mental capacity needed to combat the obstacles. Although a victim mindset is easy to possess as is reflecting/regretting choices, I knew to propel forward I must change my mindset. There are some external factors out of my control, but I can control my attitude, feelings, and actions. Overcoming the challenges coupled with moving has allowed me to fortify my mindset, so as I transition to a new school to continue my undergraduate degree, I am equipped with the proper tools to address the challenges that come with it. Deciding to deviate from previous plans pushed me to construct a network of resources. Finding somewhere to live, a job to provide the means for sustainment, and obtaining a decent quality of life was my primary focus. I enjoy deploying critical thinking skills when analyzing a problem, but it took time to develop the skill to ask for assistance when the problem became too complex. As a member of the military, I know there is a plethora of resources to assist airmen in need. An organization cannot properly execute its mission if its members are not fit to fight. I knew reaching out for assistance built the transparency needed for them to adequately provide resources. Helping me get back on my feet gave me the securement needed to show up as the best version of myself and be a contributing team member. Lastly, the challenge of moving on my own to an unfamiliar place ironically gave me desirable attributes. To obtain strength I had to experience difficulties that made me stronger. To obtain wisdom I had to solve complex problems. To obtain courage I had to overcome dangers. To experience love I had to help those in need and be helped when in need. These trials and tribulations of life gave me the unique opportunity to develop characteristics that when deployed help the greatest good. Moving to Colorado has challenged me mentally, financially, and socially, however; overcoming this challenge has benefited me in the long run. Regardless of my career path, I am confident in my skillset to remain resilient in the face of adversity. I want to utilize my engineering degree to help those in need from an environmental perspective. Environmental justice can be approached from many avenues, and I believe a materials perspective gives the innovation needed for stagnant problems.

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,” (Maya Angelou). This quote resonates with me because it emphasizes that it is not our words or accomplishments that matter but ultimately the true intent behind our actions. Humans have the capability to say one thing and do another, however; the positive, lasting mark made on somebody else’s life is the greatest legacy anyone can leave behind. I believe it is important to help others unconditionally because it promotes a healthier environment and grants fulfillment in one’s life. Helping others is critical to the survival of our environment because of the relationship between the two. How one views and treats people I believe has a direct correlation to how one treats and views nature. People who lack respect for differing cultures, ethnicities, or traditions may also fail to appreciate nature, ecosystems, or biodiversity that is outside of their respective environments. Those who exemplify initiative to assist those in need can put their interests to the side, shape their lenses to a different perspective, and collaborate on solutions for the greater good. Once one realizes that helping others does not attack their livelihood or prohibit their growth, but instead strengthens the community as serves a pivoting point in society. Psychological preliminaries such as a self-importance ideology or ignorance contribute to the mindset that perceives damaging the environment as morally okay. The golden rule is to treat others how you want to be treated, but I think we should treat others how they want to be treated. This concept shifts the focus from an individualistic mindset to being conscious of how others think and feel. Helping others unconditionally permits one to feel true fulfillment in their life. People make objectives to obtain a degree, secure a particular position, or acquire certain skills. The why behind these pursuits may change from person to person, (family approval, financial freedom, personal interest) but ultimately the root I believe is the same for all. At the end of the day, we all want simply to be happy and think the accomplishment will provide that sense of enjoyment. While some of these pursuits are feats that test one’s character and attributes, helping others provides a special opportunity to deploy virtues. I believe experiencing a true form of love comes from helping those in trouble or need. When someone provides aid without the expectation of something in return not only does it help that person or people escape their circumstances, but a domino effect is formed. To leave a lasting impression of the selflessness portrayed to them can be the motivation they need to pay it forward to others who are in a similar situation. It is crucial to support others for the benefit of our society and personal fulfillment. When people are treated as an end themselves instead of as a means to an end, respect, purpose, and willingness are instilled into their minds. If someone feels secure in their sense of belonging, they can contribute to their family, local community, and society without ill intent. The best part about helping others unconditionally is that anyone can do it despite a lack of resources or background and that help can be given to anyone.

Life components such as spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial that are built on sustainment principles prompt the best version of my future self because they grant a certain peace of mind and securement which allows me to adequately and selflessly give back to others

My name is Meleah Montgomery and I am a sophomore at Auburn University majoring in Materials Engineering. I want to continue to pursue higher education just as my family has, but more importantly because I would become a well-rounded individual, personally and professionally. Materials engineers play a vital role in the future of many aspects of life from weapons to healthcare. Obtaining my master's and Ph.D. in materials science will provide the proper knowledge needed to initiate the process of understanding the issues. I seek to help others in my career because it is my passion; it drives me to learn more about “the root” rather than the effects. I believe volunteering creates more open-minded individuals who acknowledge the different perspectives present in their community. The impact I strive to make in my field of interest is going a step further in the engineering process and try to think of preventative measurements rather than responsive actions. I have an internship with the Department of Defense (DOD) and material analysis is a key component to the safety of aircraft, vehicles, and personnel. I want to continue studying material properties to improve the life cycle of DOD aircraft components. This would ensure the DOD has an acceptable supply chain, the aircraft meets standards, and the soldiers operating them are safe. By utilizing communication skills, analytical thinking, data analysis, this degree along with the professional development I invest in will prepare me to tackle the many obstacles facing our society currently and in the future. This degree also allows me to impact the community and advocate for changes needed to improve the lifestyle of others. Volunteer work is something I am passionate about and this degree serves as the foundation for tackling these issues. For example, Flint, Michigan resident's lives were completely altered if not hard due to negligence yes, but a problem that was not addressed. Understanding the science behind a problem so complex and grand will significantly ease the stress of eliminating the problem. I chose this field of study because of the direct impact it has on so many aspects of life. Phones, tools, or medical casts; everything is made of a material. Materials engineers play a vital role from healthcare and cars to weapons and technology. This field of study has the ability to shape and progress society by analyzing data and truly understanding how alloys can be operated and manipulated. This field of study takes concepts from chemical and mechanical engineering to create more efficient products. Additionally, I chose this field of study because of the range of avenues it encompasses. I can choose to specialize in metals, plastics, polymers, ceramics, etc. I am a curious person by nature and always want to learn more about how a process operates, why it behaves in a particular manner and initiating investigations to reveal that information. Materials engineering provides the environment to get technical experience to familiarize me with the operations of the field, but more importantly, offers research opportunities to investigate more. Lastly, I chose this field of study because of the collaborative environment necessary to complete projects. Although materials engineers are crucial to society, they cannot complete an entire product, research report, or data investigation by themselves. They must collaborate and communicate with other engineers and technicians to ensure everyone is on the same page and can efficiently work towards the same goal. I enjoy working with others because it allows me to learn about the new information that could help me as I share the knowledge I have to improve their process.

Merriam-Webster defines sacrifice as "an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy". My family has made countless sacrifices on my behalf and I now have the opportunity to pay it forward. My name is Meleah Montgomery, and I am a sophomore at Auburn University majoring in Materials Engineering. I grew up in a female driven household with my mother, grandmother, and 3 sisters. My grandmother, one of thirteen, saw sacrifices from her parents; her father worked in the steel mine and mother was a housewife. She made several sacrifices that benefited her siblings and overall family. My single mother of four has displayed true selflessness throughout our childhood by ensuring all of our necessities were met regardless of the circumstances. My two older sisters, who have graduated from college, had to make those tough decisions and give up for something worth more in return. These women in my life have illustrated a powerful mindset and attitude that I now instill in myself. My mother is paying off her own student loans, both of my older sisters’ student loans, my little sister college expenses all while acting as the sole provider for the family. I see the stress my mom undergoes from the financial hardships she encounters daily. She even questioned if my youngest sister would be able to get through college. It is not fair that my youngest sister would not have access to the same opportunities as her older sisters did. Therefore, I took on the responsibility of paying for my college experience to ease some stress my mom is experiencing. It can be stressful trying to accumulate the funds for college, but I know I must make this sacrifice for my younger sister, mother, and family. My grandmother has stressed the importance of education because it provided her a path to financial stability and freedom during the civil rights era. I decided to join the United States Air National Guard directly after high school to primarily serve my country, but secondly to make sure I secured a solid resource outlet. The opportunities are endless and this sacrifice I chose to make will benefit my family, wingmen, and country. I also decided to have multiple jobs throughout my college experience to have enough funds. I am sacrificing the greatest college experience by not limiting the extracurricular activities I take part in. Being awarded this scholarship grants me the chance to direct more of my time and attention to my academics and extracurricular activities. I want to join organizations on my major, so I can increase my awareness of the opportunities and resources the college offers to students. The time I dedicate to researching about my career field will help guide my path through and after college. Paying for college myself means I can graduate with little to no debt and continue to strive for financial stability and help my family.

Access to education is a right that has not always been granted for people of color. Education gives them the power and authority over their lives to see, adapt, change, and react to a situation. My name is Meleah Montgomery and I am a sophomore at Auburn University majoring in Materials Engineering. I grew up in a female driven household- with my mother, grandmother, and 3 sisters. My grandmother, one of 13, grew up before the civil rights era and experienced many obstacles in her educational journey. She learned about the importance of education from her parents and how it would help to create a sustainable life. Her dad worked long hours in the steel mill and her mother was a housewife. Therefore, my grandmother knew a higher education was the way to a better life. By obtaining multiple degrees in nursing, including an EdD; she created a lifelong career in nursing the mentally ill to teaching college students and obtaining accreditation for the nursing program at the college where she worked until her retirement. Similarly, my single mother of four knew that she had to follow in her mother’s footsteps in receiving a good education. My mother worked 60+ hours a week as a store manager, while pursuing her master's degree at night. She sought a better career after obtaining several degrees in the legal and business fields. Now as a supervisor for the US government, my mother works with federal agencies to ensure that the community remains safe. Both of these women have served as great inspirations in my life because they made major sacrifices for the betterment for their families. I want to continue to pursue a higher education just as my family has, but more importantly, to tackle the problems facing society. Helping others is what drives me and motivates me to learn more about “the root” rather than the effects. I believe volunteering creates more open-minded individuals who acknowledge the different perspectives present in their community. Materials engineers play a vital role in the future of many aspects of life from weapons to healthcare. I want to learn more about the complexities of the career field to understand the problems facing society. I seek to help others in my career because it is my passion. I have blessed with the opportunities in my life, so it is my duty to utilize my time and resources to help others not as fortunate. As a person of color, my access to education has allowed me to take advantage of given opportunities to seek the power to determine my future situation. It is my right to pursue and share the results for my career with other students in the same field and in my future profession. I plan to utilize my platform to advocate for the black community. Too many times are the issues and concerns of black men and women ignored because society fails to empathize with the people they are supposed to be leading.

My favorite scientist is chemist and physicist Marie Curie because of her tireless dedication to studying radioactivity. Although her studies ultimately led to her death because of the unknown health risks as the time, her efforts helped provide X-rays to hospitals during WW1 and has significantly helped the health and scientific field today. As a woman in STEM, it is inspiring to see the first woman to win a Noble Prize, the first and only woman to win a Noble Prize twice, and the only person to win a Noble Prize in two scientific fields. Her decision to not patent the radium-isolation process goes to show that she truly cared about the progression of the research and that monetary awards did not matter at the end of the day.

Access to education is a right that has not always been granted for people of color. Education gives them the power and authority over their lives to see, adapt, change, and react to a situation. My name is Meleah Montgomery and I am a sophomore at Auburn University majoring in Materials Engineering. I grew up in a female driven household- with my mother, grandmother, and 3 sisters. My grandmother, one of 13, grew up before the civil rights era and experienced many obstacles in her educational journey. She learned about the importance of education from her parents and how it would help to create a sustainable life. Her dad worked long hours in the coal mines and her mother was a housewife. Therefore, my grandmother knew a higher education was the way to a better life. By obtaining multiple degrees in nursing, including an EdD; she created a lifelong career in nursing the mentally ill to teaching college students and obtaining accreditation for the nursing program at the college where she worked until her retirement. Similarly, my single mother of four knew that she had to follow in her mother’s footsteps in receiving a good education. My mother worked 60+ hours a week as a store manager, while pursuing her master's degree at night. She sought a better career after obtaining several degrees in the legal and business fields. Now as a supervisor for the US government, my mother works with federal agencies to ensure that the community remains safe. Both of my role models made major sacrifices for the betterment for their families. I want to continue to pursue a higher education just as my family has, but more importantly, because I would become a well-rounded individual, personally and professionally. Materials engineers play a vital role in the future of many aspects of life from weapons to healthcare. I want to learn more about the complexities of the career field and to understand the problems facing society. Obtaining my master's and PhD in materials science will provide the proper knowledge needed to initiate the process of understanding the issues. I seek to help others in my career because it is my passion; it drives me to learn more about “the root” rather than the effects. I believe volunteering creates more open-minded individuals who acknowledge the different perspectives present in their community. Extracurricular activities I devote my time to in addition to my studies at Auburn include, Alternative Student Break (ASB), Samuel Ginn Engineering Student Council (ESC), and the Black Student Union (BSU). ASB is an on-campus organization that prepares students to be active citizens in the community by getting them outside of their comfort zone. As a Site Leader for the upcoming academic year, I will be planning a week-long service event working on criminal justice reform in Memphis, TN. The ESC is an on-campus organization that ensures issues and concerns from students in the college are brought to the Dean's attention. As the Director of Student Affairs, I facilitate the town hall meetings and do the preparation work. The BSU is an on-campus organization that provides a safe environment for black students to gather and discuss issues they encounter on campus. As a member of BSU, I have collaborated and volunteered with other organizations. As a person of color, my access to education has allowed me to take advantage of given opportunities to seek the power to determine my future situation. It is my right to pursue and share the results for my career with other students in the same field and in my future profession.

My name is Meleah Montgomery and I am a sophomore at Auburn University majoring in Materials Engineering. I have had an interest in engineering since I was a child. I would participate in activities and try to gain as much experience in each grade level as possible. Now that I am in college and reflect on my education, one thing that has been consistent for the last 14 years of my life is that I am usually one of the few women, let alone a minority, within my engineering classes. White men have dominated the engineering career field for decades. Only recently have women been making their presence and voices heard. I knew I had to work twice as hard to get the same opportunities as my peers. I remember in 7th grade when the movie Hidden Figures came out; I was ecstatic to see representation in that career field. Not only did it solidify my decision in the career, but it also motivated me to continue despite the inevitable obstacles I will face. I am pursuing my Bachelor's of Science and hope to obtain my Master's and or Doctorate. I want to be a role model, resource, and outlet to younger girls. I am also in the United States Air Force as a Radio Frequency Transmission Systems Journeyman. I have just celebrated my third-year mark of service and have enjoyed the opportunities. Similar to the engineering career field, the U.S. Air Force has been predominantly white men in leadership roles since the beginning. Representation of women let alone black women has always been low. I know that I need a strong performance rate, strong PT scores, and volunteering under my belt to depict myself as a well-rounded airman. I need those accomplishments to compete with my fellow wingman for promotions. Upon graduation, I want to attend Officer Training School and continue my 20 years of service as an officer in the U.S. Air National Guard. I plan to be an officer to offer guidance and help plan the logistics of operations, but more importantly, be an advocate for black women. Too many times are the issues and concerns of black women ignored because the leadership fails to empathize with the people they are supposed to be leading. Higher education and professional development give me the proper tools to fight for the human rights that black women have been asking for. I plan to use my platform to reach out to the youth and keep them engaged, motivated, and curious.

Do you want to help your single mom of four with her financial load? This essay depicts the efforts I have taken to make sure I have a sturdy and financially stable career while relieving stress off of my family. My name is Meleah Montgomery and I am a sophomore at Auburn University majoring in materials engineering. I grew up with my mother, grandmother, and 3 sisters totaling to 6 women in a household. I have been surround and supported by women my entire life while also the occasionally cat fight. My mother is the biggest influence in my life because she has shown resilience, dedication, and selflessness all while being a mother to four. My mother has set the standard in motherhood and in her career. She proved that the hardships of being a single mom did not stop her from getting a higher education and landing her dream job. She had to take a leap of faith by leaving her well paid store management position at Walmart to start her dream career in law. By attending nights classes after full work days, picking us up from school, and everyday life, her drive led her to her master's degree. She has always stressed education to my siblings and I because she instill a hard work ethic in us from a young age. She has put my two older sisters through undergrad with one in a master's program and simultaneously paying for my younger sister's tuition while paying off her student loans. I never had to miss a meal or go with warm water due to my mom selfless acts of work. She also has shown me the importance of family and being vulnerable. My grandmother stepped in as my guardian when my mom was not able to provide and has illustrated to us that it is alright to struggle and be open about it. My mother has shaped my career aspirations by proving that a higher education is achievable and that through patience and dedication, no obstacle will prevail. I want to obtain my PhD in materials engineering with a specialty in metals or polymers. She has taught me what a thorough work ethic looks like, responsibility, dependability, and professionalism. I want to portray myself in the same professionalism my mom depicted throughout her career that led to her supervisory position now. I know with the skills she has taught me I can land a Lead Engineer position in my field. I know that obtaining my bachelor's degree will be the first step in my career goals. I have taken on the responsibility of paying my tuition. Not only does this help me with my time management and organizational skills, but this also allows my mom to direct her resources to my three sisters. I want to ensure that my youngest sister has access to the same opportunities my sisters and I did with our education.