My favorite invention is the modern 3-D printer. They have come so far that they are small and inexpensive enough to enter the household. It is an outlet for creativity and invention. It is the gateway for young minds to become interested in engineering. No matter how big or small of scale, 3-D printers have to possibility to change someone's life. Huge printers can now be used to create houses in a smaller timeframe with less manpower required. Small printers can be used to create mechanical parts that would otherwise be expensive because of the cost of metal or labor. The only limit to what can be created is our own imagination. As a software engineer, I will develop software for a multitude of different needs. What separates me from the typical engineer is my passion for accessibility. If every single person that software is meant for cannot accurately and quickly achieve their goals using my software no matter the situation, then I have not correctly done my job. People with disabilities and people of color often get overlooked and are not taken into account when new software is invented. Amputees or people with physical disabilities have trouble moving a mouse or using a trackpad. Software that detects a person or a face is usually not optimized to detect people of darker skin tones. Disabled people are much more common than one may realize. Most disabled people are also harder to spot than the stereotypical amputee. Taking these factors into account needs to become more commonplace in the engineering world. I can make the world a better place by creating new software that is fully accessible or by tweaking currently used software. Reaching more of the world by considering people different than ourselves when creating software is how I will do my part in making the world a better place. I look forward to using my degree to improve our world and to make sure the world becomes more inclusive in all things. 3-D printers and accessibility are closely related. A multitude of tools can be created to make the life easier of someone with a disability or impairment. A small tool to put on shoes or button a shirt can be printed in 30 minutes. Parts that wear out quickly on a prosthetic can be printed on a daily basis if needed. CAD, or the software that is used to create 3-D printed items, is becoming easier to use. While my career may not include 3-D printers often, it is a hobby I intend to continue to widen my skills and make my community a better place.

My main goal is to become a project lead. By entering the workforce to gain the experience and credential needed, I will become a project manager. A project manager must have good leadership skills as well as organizational skills, which I exemplify. A project manager must have all the skills and even more experience than their coworkers. By working for at least five years, I will gain the expertise and capabilities needed to effectively lead others. I have earned several leadership positions during my high school years, including math club president and captain of the varsity soccer team, both for two consecutive years. I also attended the 2021 Governor's School for the Sciences and Engineering held on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. I was able to learn about multiple different engineering principles like coding and user interface and design in a college environment. This amazing experience solidified my love for computers and programming. My senior year community service project through the National Beta Club partnered with the Isaiah 117 House, a service that aids kids going through foster care. I headed a campaign where students could bring in items to donate to earn hours to fulfill the Beta Club requirements. Using social media and drop boxes, I was able to spread the word about the campaign to obtain more items. This charity is close to my heart as I have many family members that are adopted, and my great aunt started a charity that combined with the Isaiah 117 House. I have also gained at least 20 service hours every year to complete my personal Beta club requirements. As a software engineer, I will develop software for a multitude of different needs. What separates me from the typical engineer is my passion for accessibility. If every single person that a software is meant for cannot accurately and quickly achieve their goals using my software no matter the situation, then I have not correctly done my job. People with disabilities and people of color often get overlooked and not taken into account when new software is invented. Amputees or people with physical disabilities have trouble moving a mouse or using a trackpad. The solution is taking extra time and care to implement the keyboard into a website. Software that detects a person or a face is usually not optimized to detect people of darker skin tones. I want to create new software with these factors in mind to make it more accessible. Taking these factors into account needs to become more commonplace in the engineering world. I can make the world a better place by creating new software that is fully accessible or by tweaking currently used software. Reaching more of the world by considering people different than ourselves when creating software is how I will do my part in making the world a better place.