1. Which trade are you going to pursue after graduation? I plan to pursue welding after graduation. ⸻ 2. Why are you interested in this particular trade? I am interested in welding because it combines hands on physical work with technical skill and precision. I have always done better in environments where I can work outdoors and stay active rather than sitting in one place. Welding stood out to me because it requires discipline, focus, and attention to detail. When I first tried welding with a friend, I realized it is a skill where every movement matters and the quality of your work directly reflects your ability. I also like that welding produces something real, lasting, and valuable. ⸻ 3. A person entering the trades should be able to think outside the box, be creative, and problem solve. Give some specific examples of things you currently do or have recently done during your high school years that require these type of skills. During my high school years, I have worked in multiple hands on jobs including construction, siding, roofing, installation, chimney and fireplace work, gutters, painting, warehouse work, and some electrical tasks. In these environments, I often had to think quickly and solve problems on the spot, such as adjusting to unexpected job site issues, working with limited tools, and finding more efficient ways to complete tasks. These jobs required adaptability, communication, and the ability to learn quickly in real world conditions. I also had to stay aware of safety and quality while working in fast paced environments. Over time, I learned how to stay focused under pressure and complete work correctly without wasting time or materials. ⸻ 4. What is your plan and how far along are you in your plan? My plan is to complete my welding program at Miller Motte, which I am currently enrolled in and actively attending. I am focused on earning my welding certifications and building a strong foundation of skill, safety, and technical knowledge during my training. After graduation, my immediate goal is to work in a fabrication shop for about 6 to 12 months to gain real world experience. I want to improve my speed, consistency, and overall skill while learning how a professional shop operates. This experience will help me strengthen my abilities before moving into more advanced work. After gaining that experience, I plan to relocate to either Texas or Oregon to pursue pipeline welding, where I can continue developing my craft in a more demanding and skilled environment. Long term, I also want to start my own business in ornamental welding and custom metal fabrication, where I can combine creativity with technical skill to build unique and high quality work. ⸻ 5. If I were to call an adult in your life that knows you well, why would they recommend you to receive this? An adult in my life who would recommend me is my high school teacher, Mrs. Wright. She has supported me since high school and has seen my growth, work ethic, and consistency over the years. She originally knew me for my interest in graphic design, which I have been self teaching since 2020, and for my goal of starting a clothing brand in the future. Even though my career focus has shifted toward welding and the trades, she has continued to support my decision because she understands that I think long term and work toward stability. Right now, I am prioritizing building a steady career in welding so I can support myself financially and eventually fund my creative goals on my own. Mrs. Wright would likely recommend me because I am disciplined, responsible, and consistent in whatever I commit to. She has seen that I take my goals seriously and that I am willing to adapt, work hard, and build a stable future for myself.

My entire life, I have watched my mother sacrifice everything for our family. She worked tirelessly to support my sibling and me, even when it meant giving up sleep, comfort, and rest. I remember nights when she would wake up at 2 in the morning to prepare for work, complete a long shift, come home exhausted, rest briefly, and then leave again for a second job. This was not temporary. It was her life for years. Because of her, we always had what we needed, even if we did not have everything we wanted. Watching her shaped who I am. It taught me discipline, consistency, and resilience. I learned early that nothing is handed to you, and everything is earned through hard work. That mindset pushed me to start working at fourteen years old so I could contribute in any way I could. Since then, I have worked in retail, warehouses, construction, siding, roofing, installation, chimney and fireplace work, gutters, painting, and some electrical work. These jobs helped me build experience in real working environments and showed me what it means to earn a living through effort and responsibility. Through all of those experiences, I realized something important about myself. I am not built for sitting behind a desk or standing in one place doing repetitive tasks without purpose. I work best in hands on environments where effort, movement, and skill directly affect the outcome. I like being outside, staying active, and seeing the results of my work. I move fast, stay focused, and hold myself to a high standard no matter the job. This is what led me toward the trades. I chose a career in the trades because I want to build things that are real and lasting. I am motivated by work that has purpose and visible results. Trades give me that opportunity. They require skill, discipline, and consistency, not just time spent on a task. That type of work fits how I think and how I operate. Welding specifically stood out to me because it is both physical and technical. When I first tried welding, I immediately noticed it was different from my other jobs. Every movement matters, and every weld has to be precise for it to hold. It is not something you can rush without consequence. That level of responsibility and skill is what motivates me to pursue it seriously. My background in construction and other labor jobs has prepared me for this path. I understand job sites, safety, teamwork, and the importance of doing work correctly the first time. The trades allow me to take everything I have learned and turn it into a specialized skill that can support a long term career. I am pursuing welding because I want more than temporary jobs. I want a career where I can grow, earn certifications, and become highly skilled in my craft. My goal is to build stability for myself and my family through work that has real value. I am motivated by hard work, and I was raised by it. The trades give me the opportunity to turn that mindset into a future I can build with my own hands.

My entire life, I have watched my mother sacrifice everything for our family. She worked tirelessly to support my sibling and me, even when it meant giving up sleep, comfort, and rest. I remember nights when she would wake up at 2 in the morning to prepare for work, complete a long shift, come home exhausted, rest briefly, and then leave again for a second job. This was not temporary. It was her life for years. Because of her, we always had what we needed, even if we did not have everything we wanted. Watching her shaped my mindset early. It taught me that success is earned through discipline, consistency, and resilience. That lesson pushed me to start working at fourteen years old because I wanted to contribute in any way I could. Since then, I have worked in retail, warehouses, construction, siding, roofing, installation, chimney and fireplace work, gutters, painting, and some electrical work. These jobs built my work ethic and showed me the value of developing real skills through hard work. Through all of those experiences, I learned that I perform best in hands on environments, especially outdoors, where effort and skill matter. I have never been the type to stand still or do repetitive tasks without purpose. I work fast, stay focused, and hold myself to a high standard. In every job I have had, I pushed myself to outperform expectations because I take pride in my work. That is why I chose welding as my field. Welding stood out to me because it is not just physical labor. It requires precision, control, and technical skill. When I first tried welding with a friend, I immediately noticed the difference from other work I had done. Every movement matters, and every weld has to be done correctly for it to hold and last. That level of responsibility is what drew me in. Unlike many of the jobs I have had, welding challenges me to slow down and focus on accuracy while still applying the same strong work ethic I already have. It is a trade where discipline and attention to detail directly impact the quality of the work. That balance is exactly what I am looking for in a career. My background in construction and other labor intensive jobs has prepared me for this path. I understand safety, job site expectations, and the importance of doing work correctly the first time. Welding gives me the opportunity to take those experiences and turn them into a specialized, long term skill that builds something meaningful. I plan to complete my training, earn certifications, and become a skilled welder who can take on serious responsibility. I want a career, not just jobs, and welding gives me that direction. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to fully focus on my training and reduce the financial burden on my family. More importantly, it would help me build a future that reflects the discipline and work ethic my mother taught me through her sacrifices. I am not afraid of hard work. I was raised by it. Welding is where I can turn that mindset into a lasting career.