Since childhood, I was fascinated by the way thing's function. In high school and middle school, I enrolled in all the robotics courses available to me, as I wanted to know the reasons behind the logic, accuracy, and ingenuity that drove every part of the machine into motion. I wasted hours of my time programming searching and assembling mechanisms capable of doing simple tasks. Those experiences gave me the feeling of fulfilling an idea by engineering also made me develop a stronger interest in how human potential can be extended through innovation. Then, as time reached to determine which branch of STEM I would go into, I began to look into all branches of STEM. Mechanical, electrical and computer engineering interested me, but none appeared to be in close touch with my lifelong interest in the stars. I used to lay in bed as a child staring into the sky thinking how it would be to create something capable of escaping the atmosphere of the planet. Such silent inquiry was translated into determination. During the time I viewed a documentary on space exploration and some movies which showed the hurdles engineers have to conquer to enable human spaceflight. The view of the cooperation, strength, and creativity needed to launch a rocket into space made me understand that being an aeronautical engineer was not a job, it was a vocation. Nevertheless, I was not always on my way to this goal. I was frequently the sole girl on my group project or robotics team in most of my robotics classes. Although I was enthusiastic and willing to help, my suggestions were not always respected. My male teammates sometimes thought I lacked the technical capability to execute the technical components of our projects and would simply assign me duties such as the team notebook maintenance, documentation, or workspace clean-up. To be excluded in building and coding, the thing I enjoyed, was frustrating, but such incidents turned out to be turning points. I did not passively accept those roles but instead took the initiative, learning independently, staying at school after the lessons to test code and requesting teachers to provide additional advice. At the end of the day, my performance was more than the stereotype itself. Towards the end of high school, I was leading my own projects, mentoring younger students, and demonstrating with my own work that gender has nothing to do with capability. As a female in STEM, I know that representation is important. These difficulties only made me more determined to make the world a better place to live in by providing a more inclusive environment to the generations to come. I would like to be included in the number of women engineers who do not just break the walls but are opening the door to others who are yet to have their opportunity to be noticed. To me, STEM has never been a subject matter; it has been a way of thinking of determination, innovation, and influence. All the things I have struggled with since my first robot to the discovery of orbital mechanics only made me even stronger in my belief that engineering is what will allow me to do something important to the world. Aeronautical engineering is the extreme form of human interest, a profession that will venture to ask the question of what is next and construct the response. Not only would this scholarship fund my education, but it would also help me in fulfilling my vision of contributing to the future of the aerospace technology and in encouraging others to aim to reach the stars.

I am currently a college student pursuing engineering, with the goal of transferring into aeronautical engineering in the near future. This career path reflects not only my academic interests but also the values and life lessons that have been built into me since childhood. One of the biggest influences on my character and ambitions has been my father’s career as a truck driver. His job kept him away from home for long periods of time—sometimes weeks at a stretch—which created challenges for our family but also shaped who I am and what I want for my future. When I was younger, I did not fully understand why my dad was gone so often. All I knew was that he missed birthdays, school events, and other milestones that many of my friends’ fathers were present for. At times, this absence was hard to accept. There were moments when I wanted him there to help me with homework, teach me something new, or simply to sit with me at the dinner table. My mom carried much of the weight of raising me and keeping the household running, and I did my best to support her. This reality made me grow up faster in certain ways, learning to be more independent and responsible than some of my peers. As I matured, I started to see my father’s work in a different light. What I once thought of as absence became something I understood as sacrifice. My dad was not on the road because he wanted to miss out on our lives; he was working long hours and traveling across states to provide for us. His commitment ensured that we had stability, food on the table, and opportunities for education. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that his sacrifice was not a sign of distance, but rather an expression of love and dedication to our family. That shift in perspective changed how I viewed my own responsibilities. Instead of focusing on what I lacked, I began to focus on what I could learn from his example. My father showed me that hard work, discipline, and perseverance are the keys to building something better for the next generation. Watching him return home exhausted yet proud of the miles he drove made me appreciate the strength it takes to keep pushing forward even when things are difficult. My mom also inspired me, as she balanced caring for the household while supporting my dad’s demanding schedule. Together, they gave me a model of determination and teamwork that continues to guide me. This background has shaped not only my personality but also my ambitions. I am drawn to engineering because it reflects the same values my parents lived by: problem-solving, persistence, and the ability to make a tangible difference. Aeronautical engineering in particular excites me because it combines my fascination with flight and space exploration with the challenge of designing technology that improves human life. Airplanes, spacecraft, and advanced systems are not just machines—they are the results of countless hours of dedication, collaboration, and sacrifice from engineers who believe in creating progress. That is the kind of work I want to be a part of. Looking back, I realize that the very thing that was once difficult—my father being away—gave me some of my greatest strengths. It taught me independence, resilience, and the drive to succeed. It showed me that challenges can become sources of motivation if we choose to see them in a positive way. My parents’ sacrifices inspire me to give my best in everything I do, and to keep striving for a future where my hard work can benefit others. In the end, my story is not just about becoming an engineer—it is about carrying forward the lessons of sacrifice, responsibility, and perseverance into my career. I want to build a life where my work matters, where my contributions in aeronautical engineering reflect the values that were instilled in me at home. Just as my dad’s miles on the road brought stability to our family, I want my hours in the lab, in the classroom, and eventually in the field to bring progress and solutions to the world. That is how I will honor my parents’ sacrifices and turn them into something even greater.

The Reason Calculus is Relevant to the STEM Field. One of the foundations of the STEM field that is of utmost importance is known as calculus since it gives an opportunity to comprehend, describe, and predict how things vary. Fundamentally, STEM concerns itself with real-world problem-solving, and virtually all real-world problems deal with change. The velocities change, population increases, materials become bent, and temperatures become high and low. Calculus enables scientists and engineers to go past mere observation and actually measure these changes and make them a mathematical model which can be modeled, optimized and implemented. Calculus finds application in engineering to design the airplanes and smartphones. An example of this is the aerospace engineers who apply calculus in studying how rockets travel, fuel consumption and the optimization of flight paths. Even minor changes need accurate calculations that involve rates of change and integrals to be safe and effective. Calculus is also applied by mechanical engineers such as myself to model the stresses on a bridge, the efficiency of an engine, or the flow of air across a wing. In the absence of calculus, such designs would have to be based on guess work instead of mathematical predictions that are tested. Calculus is critical in physics to learn the laws of energy and motion. The idea of Newtonian laws of motion, the staples of classical physics, is put in direct form in terms of differential equations. Using calculus scientists are able to explain such things as planetary orbits, wave motion, or even electricity and magnetism. These understandings are not purely theoretical, but they are the foundation of technologies such as GPS satellite systems, medical imaging, and renewable energy systems. Calculus is also equally important in the life sciences. It is applied in modeling population growth and predicting the spread of diseases, as well as understanding ecosystem changes, which are both used by biologists. It assists in the study of drug absorption and metabolism in the body over time in health sciences. These models save lives by enhancing treatments and predicting accurately the outcomes which could not be predicted by mere observation. Calculus is applicable in even the computer science and data analysis. Specialized algorithms that drive artificial intelligence and machine learning typically resort to calculus to optimise functions, reduce errors and/or enhance predictions. Calculus makes technology accurate, speedy and efficient in graphics rendering in video games and voice recognition software. Calculus does not only teach a way of thinking, but also has applications. It involves distillation of problems into smaller steps, analysis of the connection between the variables and finally reassembling everything into a solution. It is that problem-solving mind that is central to innovation in all disciplines of STEM. Briefly, calculus is the language of transformation and the STEM stronghold. It links theory with practice and assists us to transition between theory and practice, or more precisely, theory and technology that influences our lives. To me, calculus is not a curriculum subject or another course in school, but rather the open door to exploration in the future, whether it be in designing life support systems or developing rockets that can carry us even the furthest into space.

The line in the GUTS by Olivia Rodrigo that most strongly appeals to me is in her song, teenage dream: It gets better / It gets better the more you grow. In my case, this lyric describes the confusion of adolescence, that is, the feeling of existence on the threshold of adulthood and yet have the uncertainties of youth. It is all said that life only gets better with age, but at that particular time the troubles of teenage life may seem like a lot. This lyric is a promise of change and at the same time a reminder that change comes with hurt, confusion, and perseverance. Being a teenager, I used to be torn out between the expectation and reality. On the one hand, I was being informed to work hard, make future plans, and make the decisions which will shape the rest of my life. Conversely, I also was still discovering myself and I was under both school, social media, and the need to fit in pressures. The words of Olivia echo that dichotomy: that things will be better, but that to get there, you have to fight. The teenage dream song makes me recall all the nights when I was anxious about whether I was good enough, in terms of academics, socially and personally. I, just like Olivia, have struggled with self-doubt and the perfectionism pressure. I have heard the older folks tell me that it will not seem so weighty one day, but as you are going through it you know its better and it seems so distant. That is why her song sounds so close to me: it does not reject teenage problems, it confirms them. It recognizes that the need to grow up is awkward and hurting, yet a progress to becoming stronger and accepting oneself. Hearing GUTS allowed me to understand that I am not the only one in those sentiments. Such songs as teenager dream allowed me to accept my flaws rather than to conceal them. They also taught me that adolescence is not meant to be the stage when everything has to be perfect, but it is the time to learn by making mistakes, getting heart broken, and feeling vulnerable. Such an outlook has allowed me to be more tolerant towards myself as I am going through school, work, and family commitments. More to the point this lyric made me realize that it is not a matter of rushing into adulthood, it is a matter of respecting the life of becoming. Now, I do not perceive the teenage years as a period of time wasted or a period of relentless effort, but as a period of building strength. All the difficulties I have encountered both academically and in the workplace have now made me become a person who will never give up, even when the future becomes unpredictable. Ultimately, the lyrics of Olivia Rodrigo make me remember that being a teenager does not require being perfect, but surviving, feeling, and moving on. The fact that it gets better promise might not be able to wipe the current hardships but it gives hope to the future. It is that hope that helps me to continue working towards my goals and to believe that the muddled, disorganised aspects of the growing up process are also the most changing.

Why I’m a Fan of Wicked To me, Wicked has always been more than a musical, it is a tale of identity, friendship, and the strength it requires to be big when others do not understand you. The first time I listened to Defying Gravity, I had a feeling as though the show was addressing me personally, as it reassured me that despite what others are saying or what they are thinking about you your voice is still heard and your decisions do count. What I find most appealing about Wicked is that it reinvents the character of Elphaba, who during a long time was relegated to do nothing but being the Wicked Witch of the West. Instead, we feel she is a complicated woman, one who is courageous, passionate and misunderstood. I have always identified with her as she tries to overcome her difference but eventually does not want to conceal herself. Being a student who studies STEM, I understand how it is to stand out, how at times I feel like the outlier in a room. The above journey by Elfaba makes me realize that my differences may be my strength and that being myself is more powerful than trying to be the mold of another. Simultaneously, I have been inspired by the character of Glinda, too. She starts light and popularity centred but as she matures, she realizes the need to look beyond, seek a purpose, and know how to effectively serve the people you love. I love the friendship between Glinda and Elphaba — it is not perfect, not flawless, but it still changes and transforms. It also reminds me that true friendship is not about getting along on everything; it’s about picking each other up and leaving a mark that lasts long the way the song For Good is so beautifully done. The music is itself memorable. Other songs such as defying gravity and for good are not mere theater pieces they are anthems in my life. The song Defying Gravity challenges me to pursue all my goals regardless of the obstacles and the song For Good keeps me in mind of those people who have helped mold me to what I am today such as my family and teachers who are always by my side. I am particularly looking forward to this story being described to even more people with the upcoming Wicked movie. I believe that first-time listeners will feel the same wonder and empowerment I felt and I wish that it will make them accept their individuality, appreciate true friendship and dare to rise high against all odds. Ultimately, I like the Wicked since it is a tale about being unashamed of who you are and also the strength of human bonding. It’s a reminder that you can still get up, inspire, and, like Elphaba, defy gravity even in a world that does not necessarily understand you.

The Switch-Up Challenge Truth or Dare. The challenges are one of the most enjoyable aspects of Love Island, since they challenge the Islanders, unveil secrets, and create drama in the villas in an entertaining manner. My challenge concept, the Truth or Dare Switch-Up would be a mixture of the chaos of the game of truth or dare and the gameplay twists that fans are fond of. Setup Everyone on the Island is seated on a circle in the main villa area. It has a branded Love Island Spinner in the centre (in the form of a coloured wheel). The wheel has two wedges with Truth, Dare and Switch-Up. Rules An Islander spins the wheel. When it falls on Truth they need to respond to a hot question concerning relationships, alliances or sentiments in the villa (e.g. Who do you think is least a match secretly?). Producers pre-write the questions so that the maximum tension and the maximum honesty are achieved. Should it fall on Dare, they have to do some fun, cheeky activity (such as serenading another Islander, doing some silly talent, or playing a dramatic scene out of a soap opera with a person they are not coupled with). When it comes on Switch-Up, they have to briefly change partners with another couple to do the next mini-game or villa activity - be it preparing breakfast, dancing, or simply sitting together. Objective The purpose of the challenge does not refer to winning something but to disrupt the dynamics in the villa. Islanders are forced to unleash emotions that otherwise they could suppress and see how they work with another person. It fosters discussion, incites healthy rivalry and leaves the viewer glued to the hypotheticals that make Love Island addictive. Why It Works The Truth or Dare Switch-Up has three elements that fan obsess: the truth, the humor and the unexpectedness. Viewers would be supplied with the drama of rash confessions, the comedy of improbable challenges, the mystery of couples trying something different in a challenge. It also provides Islanders with an opportunity to express more personality, vulnerability and playfulness, which are relatable to fans. To make the Show More Exciting. With a combination of truths, challenges, and unexpected partner changes, this challenge would be fresh but at the same time very fitting to the Love Island atmosphere. It would produce viral, meme-worthy content as well as expand storylines, which is what keeps fans discussing a long time after the episode is over. To put it in a nutshell, the Truth or Dare Switch-Up is not just a game but a means to test relationships, stir up the kettle and keep the audience on the edge of their seats anxiously awaiting what will transpire next in the villa.

It is not a single moment in the Taylor Swift performance that I find the most moving, but how her craft can exist on two opposite ends, astonishing closeness and spectacle. Her 2021 Grammy performance of Folklore and Evermore and her opening of the Eras Tour are two performances that I consider the examples of this balance. Taylor turned the whole stage into a forest dream at the Grammys. In her cozy environment, with moss, warm lighting and her nearest associates, she sang as though she had called the world into her living room. She made us remember the fact that music was not only a source of comfort but a lifeline at a time when people were craving to connect with other people because of isolation. The performance was most powerfully quiet to me. No fireworks, no choreography, simply her voice, her words and the feelings that filled them with. It was demonstrated that power in performance is not necessarily spectacle-based, but authenticity-based. This was followed few years later when Taylor took the stage to a totally different platform, the launching of the Eras Tour. This was all electric in contrast to the Grammys where everything was still. Introduced by a glittering bodysuit and the tune of the song "Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince," she dominated the stadium in a confident way, and she began a three-hour voyage through her career. What impressed me here was not necessarily the scale of the production, though it was impressive as well, but her capacity to make people feel personally connected to tens of thousands of people. She was able to transition smoothly between the majestic exultation of the anthem-like singing “Cruel Summer to a startling acoustic piece where she sang to every one of the audience. These performances combined explain the reason why Taylor Swift has been so successful in the limelight. She is the songwriter who is capable of whispering her heart into a microphone and the showgirl capable of blazing in a sequin under the lights of the stadium. She realizes that she is not only in the music business, but in the business of telling stories, perseverance and bonding. The thing is, that these performances are touching me by the way they mirror her journey. Taylor has endured criticism, re-invention and the unstopping pressure of public life, but each of them she makes an art out of. She was vulnerable and reflective at the Grammys. She rejoiced in survival and reinvention in the Eras Tour. The two scenes encapsulate the soul of The Life of a Showgirl: the capacity to continue performing, not only to entertain, but to connect, motivate and survive. In my case, such performances happen to be reminders of the strength of being present. It could be a mellow tune in a woods-like background or a stadium packed with life, Taylor demonstrates that the most memorable ones are the ones that remain you-no matter who you are-- and that is why hers would still inspire me.

I like Sabrina Carpenter as she is persistent, creative and confident, which I also strive to incorporate in my life. Since she was a young girl who went on stage all the way to her present day achievements as a singer-songwriter, Sabrina has demonstrated that there is no growth in doing things in a straight line but in taking the risk to venture into new directions. Her songs are a combination of weakness and strength, and this is easy to relate to her personally. The career she has had an influence on me by teaching me that it is okay to take chances, to be unapologetically who you are and to embrace change as a part of the process. When I listen to her songs I do not only hear catchy melodies, but also the story of a person who made her own way despite doubts and expectations. That gives me hope since I am also struggling my way through my own struggles at school and in life- particularly in STEM where women feel out of place. Sabrina’s confidence helps me push myself to feel like the only one in a place where I might feel like the only one and her artistry helps me to remain creative and stay to myself, even in technical spheres. To be a fan of Sabrina Carpenter is not to listen to her music only but to have a reminder that authenticity and resilience can unlock things no matter how daunting the mission.

I look back on my journey and see a story made of struggle and resilience. Being a first-generation American, I was born in a Cuban family of immigrants that moved to South Florida in 2001, and was thus taught by my parents the importance of perseverance. They abandoned all that they knew to get a chance, and their sacrifices gave me a basis for my dreams. My parents not only promote education in the house, but it is considered to be the way to stability, development, and the opportunity to add something significant to the world. Although my parents worked hard, I did not have the assurance of financial stability. I saw them working hard, long hours, because they had to support me and my elder brother. Their sacrifices motivated me, yet they made me realize that it is not always easy to be in higher education and be burdened by financial responsibility. In the year 2024, when I graduate high school and enroll at Florida International University, I was aware that it was time to balance between studies and a job because the tuition and living costs were going to be expensive. Over the last year, I have been employed part-time and full-time in mechanical engineering at Best Buy. This balance is not easy. I sometimes have days when I work late at night, and when I get home, I am so exhausted, and I wake up the following morning and solve some calculations or write a physics test. It also happens that financial concerns creep into my head: bills, tuition, and the price of textbooks for the semester. Never have I been halted by these fears. Instead, they energize me to continue to move on, reminiscent of my parents' sacrifices, and the dreams I hold not just on my behalf, but theirs, as well. It is not only financial but also personal; the feeling that I fit in STEM can be considered one of the biggest challenges I have to deal with. It is natural to feel confused in engineering classrooms, and as a woman and a Latina, I have at times encountered the burden of being the one in the room. It is easy to cast doubts aside: Am I good enough, smart enough, or capable enough to perform in such a challenging field? I get myself out of these doubts by reminding myself of why I began. My interest in space and rockets started back in the pre-college days when I used to watch the launches on Cape Canaveral and imagine how I would one day be a part of something greater than myself. That love is only intensified by the fact that each time I acquire some new concept in the classroom, be it thermodynamics, material strength, or aerodynamics, I see how each component contributes to the greater picture of space exploration. I concentrate on persistence in order to remain down to earth. I keep in mind that I have the heritage of resiliency, and I am resilient. There are potentially financial challenges and a lack of confidence, yet I continue to persevere because my goals are not only my personal concern, but also the future of science and exploration. The first step to my actual specialization- aeronautical engineering- is mechanical engineering. I would like to move to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and base my profession on the creation of the life support system in long-term space missions. It may read like an attention to technicality, but to me, it is very personal. When I consider astronauts departing the Earth to go on a mission to Mars or farther, I do not simply visualize rockets and engines. I envision the human beings on the shipboard - they needed air, water, food, and emotional health. The human challenge is in designing systems that will recycle and breathe life into space. It poses: how do we make sure that we survive when no supply ships are coming, no speedy home to Earth, and no chance to spare? This question drives me. I would like to apply my education to contribute to the development of systems that ensure long-duration missions will be safe, efficient, and sustainable. Through this, I would be able to help usher in the next generation of exploration - one that would explore the limit of what can be accomplished by humanity. One day, I would like to be employed at NASA or one of the major aerospace corporations and spend my time solving these life support issues. However, I will not just make any difference in the systems I design. I also wish to be an example of a young woman of color who might be having the same doubts I have had. Representation matters. I would like to show other people that I could become someone like that first-generation Latino student, who is financially struggling, has to balance his/her activities, but can pursue STEM and become an important part of science in the future. I wish to commemorate the sacrifices of my family, the strength of my culture, and the hope of people, such as Eric Larson, who had faith in equality in the sciences. It has not been a smooth ride, but I have been guided by perseverance, enthusiasm, and the need to make a difference. I have encountered economic hardship and lack of self-confidence, but these have only made me more determined to become an engineer. I am driven by my passion for space exploration, and my future vision drives me. I feel that with education, perseverance, and labor, I will not only be able to make my dream of working in aerospace engineering come true, but I will also be able to make others believe that they are not out of place in STEM.

The Silent Crew Member The first time I learned about space exploration, I was less interested in the rockets themselves and more in the question of survival: how do humans actually live once they’ve left Earth? That curiosity has followed me into my mechanical engineering studies. I often imagine the spacecraft of the near future — not as silent metal shells, but as homes where astronauts live and work alongside partners that aren’t entirely human. These partners are robots, and they will be as crucial as oxygen tanks and solar panels in our effort to reach farther into space. A New Kind of Astronaut Robots are already on Mars — rovers like Perseverance roll across the dusty plains, collecting samples and sending back data. But they aren’t yet part of the crew. In the near future, I imagine spacecraft carrying a different kind of robot: one that moves through the cabin, checks life support systems, and even notices when an astronaut looks fatigued. Not just a mechanic, but a teammate. This raises opportunities and challenges. On one hand, robots could reduce the overwhelming physical and mental demands of spaceflight. They could manage recycling systems, monitor air composition, and patch micro-leaks in the hull before a human even notices a problem. On the other hand, there’s the question of trust. Can astronauts rely on a robot the way they rely on one another? A miscalculation in oxygen levels isn’t just a mistake — it’s a matter of life and death. The Human Factor This is where Joanne Pransky’s vision resonates with me most. She reminded us that robots are not just tools; they are part of a social fabric. On long missions to Mars or beyond, astronauts will face isolation, confinement, and stress. A robot designed only to calculate fuel efficiency will fail to address the deeper human need for connection. What if a robot could serve as both technician and companion — not replacing human bonds, but easing the loneliness of being millions of miles away from Earth? Of course, this idea has challenges. Should robots be allowed to simulate emotion? Would astronauts be comforted by a robot that seems to understand, or unsettled by the illusion of companionship? These are not just technical questions, but ethical ones. Yet I believe exploring them is essential if we are to build the future of human-robot collaboration in space. Opportunities for Exploration Imagine a Mars base where robots maintain the greenhouse, ensuring that oxygen production and water recycling remain stable while astronauts focus on scientific discovery. Robots could venture outside in sandstorms too dangerous for humans, setting up solar panels or repairing communication towers. They could even serve as medical assistants, monitoring astronauts’ health and alerting Earth in emergencies. For me, the most exciting opportunity is in life support. As someone fascinated by the systems that keep astronauts alive — air recycling, water purification, and waste management — I see robotics as the bridge between fragility and survival. A robot that can monitor and optimize these systems in real time could mean the difference between a mission that fails and a mission that thrives. A Personal Mission As a first-generation American and first-generation college student, I know what it means to face challenges with limited resources but unlimited drive. Entering STEM, I’ve sometimes felt the same doubts that many young women in engineering experience: the question of whether we belong. Reading about Joanne Pransky’s life, I see a reflection of that struggle and a reminder that the social side of robotics — the human side — is just as vital as the engineering. My ambition is to work on life support systems for long-duration missions, and I know robotics will be inseparable from that work. But more than that, I want to help create robots that don’t just keep astronauts alive, but make them feel less alone. If we are to settle Mars, build lunar bases, or send explorers even farther, we cannot treat survival and human well-being as separate challenges. The Future We Choose Science fiction has always asked: what happens when humans and robots live together? In the near future, this won’t be fiction — it will be the daily reality of astronauts. The challenge is not only to make robots precise and reliable, but to make them partners in the human story of exploration. When I think of the spacecraft of tomorrow, I don’t picture a crew of six humans. I picture a crew of seven — six humans, and one silent but watchful robot, maintaining the delicate systems that keep everyone alive. Not just a machine, but the crewmate who makes sure the mission can go on. That is the opportunity, and the challenge, of robotics in the near future. And it’s the future I want to help build.

I have always wanted to go to college and pursue the highest degree possible in a field of my choosing (engineering), making me the first to try to get a degree higher than an associate in my family.