I want to pursue a career in STEM because I enjoy figuring out how things work and solving problems with my hands. Growing up, I was always interested in taking things apart, fixing them, and understanding why they worked the way they did. That interest eventually led me to automotive technology, where I’ve found a career that fits both my personality and my strengths. I’m currently attending Lincoln Tech and working toward becoming an automotive technician. What I enjoy most is that every day presents a different challenge. Sometimes the problem isn’t obvious, and you have to think through it step by step until you find the solution. There’s a lot more to the field than just turning wrenches. It takes critical thinking, technology, and a willingness to keep learning as vehicles continue to change. My interest in this field also comes from wanting to build a stable future. Growing up, there were times when things weren’t always easy. My mother spent time in and out of jail, and I learned at a young age how important responsibility and hard work are. I spent time doing small jobs around my neighborhood, like cutting grass and taking out trash cans, to make extra money and help my siblings. Those experiences taught me that if I wanted something, I had to be willing to work for it. I’m from Clayton County, Georgia, and one thing that motivates me is seeing how many people my age and younger end up in the streets because they feel like they don’t have other options. I’ve had conversations with people I know and tried to help them understand that gangbanging and living a “street life” isn’t the only paths available. A lot of young people just need someone to show them a different direction and prove that there are opportunities out there. I want to be one of those people. As for helping my community, I don’t see myself as some perfect role model. I just want to be living proof that you can come from a difficult situation, learn a skill, and build a career for yourself. As I grow in the automotive and diesel industry, I hope to mentor younger people, introduce them to trade schools and technical careers, and show them that success doesn’t have to look the same for everyone. In the future, I hope to move into diesel technology and help my uncle grow a trucking business. By building that career and sharing what I’ve learned, I hope to create opportunities not only for myself but for others as well. To me, STEM is about using knowledge and skills to solve real world problems, and I plan to use those skills to support my family, strengthen my community, and help young people see that there is a future beyond the streets.

Growing up in a low-income, single-parent household, I learned early on that we had to be resourceful and work twice as hard to stay ahead, and that’s where my uncle really became a huge influence in my life. Watching him work on engines in the driveway was what first sparked my interest in the automotive field; he didn’t just fix things, he showed me how to solve complex problems with patience and the tools he had on hand, which inspired me to follow in his footsteps. This background taught me the value of a strong work ethic and gave me the grit to pursue my goals even when things get tough, which is exactly the mindset I bring to my studies at Lincoln Tech every day. Now, at 19 years old, I am pushing myself in my heavy-duty engine classes and working toward my ASE certifications because I want to build a career as a professional diesel technician who people can rely on to keep the big rigs moving. My plan is to use my experience to eventually give back to my community by mentoring other students who come from similar backgrounds, showing them that the trades are a powerful path to a better life. I want to be a specialist who not only masters the technology under the hood but also shares that knowledge so others can gain the skills to become self-sufficient and successful too.

I didn’t grow up with a clear plan, but I always knew I liked working with my hands, and fixing things made sense to me. I’m currently attending Lincoln Tech, training to become an automotive technician. My goal is to start in automotive and work my way into diesel, where I can eventually help my uncle launch a trucking business with a Peterbilt. He’s been in the industry for years, and I’ve seen how hard it is to keep a rig running without reliable service. That’s what pushed me toward this field, not just the machines, but the people behind them. At school, I’ve worked on vehicles like the Nissan Maxima SR and the Ford Fiesta SE. I’ve learned how to read scan tool data, inspect CVT systems, and follow proper documentation. I take pride in doing things right, clean workflows, precise torque specifications, and attention to detail. I’m methodical about it because I know that in this line of work, mistakes cost time and money. Every skill I build now is laying the foundation for when I transition into diesel and start working on heavy-duty systems. I didn’t choose the trades because they’re trendy or because someone told me to. I chose them because they’re real. You see the results of your work. You help people get to work, deliver goods, or support their families. That kind of responsibility means something to me. As for social causes, I care about making trades education more accessible especially for people who don’t fit the college mold. There’s too much pressure to follow a traditional path, and not enough respect for hands-on work. I’ve seen classmates gain confidence just by learning how to fix something themselves. I want to help more people find that sense of purpose, especially those who feel overlooked or underestimated. I also care about helping young people in my community find direction. A lot of them don’t see a future for themselves, especially if they’re not interested in school or don’t have strong support at home. I’ve seen how learning a trade can change someone’s mindset, give them confidence, structure, and a reason to show up. I want to be someone who shares what I’ve learned and helps others see that there’s a path forward, even if it’s not the one everyone expects. This scholarship would help me keep moving forward toward certification, toward diesel, and toward building a future that’s rooted in reliability and service. I’m not trying to impress anyone. I just want to do the work, do it well, and make a difference where it counts.