Becoming an engineer was not a straightforward path for me. I am a triplet born to two Filipino immigrant parents in New York City. My family instilled in me a passion to chase the best education possible and always work harder. In high school, I was the president of my FRC robotics team, bringing us to the World Championships, leading efforts in community service, and doubling the population of girls in our team. I spearheaded many projects, setting up robotics workshops in the Philippines and volunteering at local hospitals. I loved the technical challenges of engineering, as well as the representation I brought to the field as a leader of a large team. This experience inspired me to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. At the University of Michigan, I have participated in numerous engineering activities throughout my undergraduate career. In my freshman year, I was a researcher in the Structural Dynamics and Control Lab, where I researched new structures for soft robotic applications. I was also a member of SPARK Electric Racing, an electric motorcycle design team. There, I learned valuable machining, design, and analysis skills. I researched in the Tol Lab, where I am conducting a study on chiral structures for low frequency attenuation as a part of my independent research. I am also a member of WAA, where I network with other women in aerospace engineering. I participate in volunteer outreach with WAA because I believe it is critical for us women to bring representation to the industry that has long been mostly men. My most concrete achievements took place during my internships at Northrop Grumman and SpaceX. Over the course of my 12 month co-op as a Test and Instrumentation Intern at Northrop Grumman in the Launch Vehicles Division, I learned how to do interdisciplinary engineering through test campaigns with propulsion and structural engineers. I worked as an Avionics Intern in the Flight Termination Systems (FTS) team at SpaceX, and during my first week there I took immediate ownership of the development of new FTS hardware for our upcoming vehicle, Starship. I had little experience owning hardware development, and I was at a significant disadvantage since I was working with new avionics products and PCBs. However, I organized design reviews, enlisted efforts from other engineers, communicated with our suppliers to get materials, and subjected my hardware to as many environmental and functional tests to have it qualified in only a couple months. In addition, I developed new test fixtures to conduct ordnance blast tests, ran qualification tests for radio equipment, and responded to many flight critical tests. I worked long hours not because I was told to, but because I truly enjoy working hard and learning new skills. I learned not only new technical skills, but also teamwork and communication, especially with engineers from different backgrounds. I know I have what it takes to become an important leader in the space industry. I want to lead large scale space-related projects that will change the world. Whether it be a difficult class or project, I will always persevere and do what it takes to help push the boundaries of engineering. In high school I told my teachers I wanted to be in a textbook someday, serving as an example to all girls in STEM that we are very capable of many feats despite our circumstances. I know the opportunities here have already made a massive impact in my personal and professional life, and as I take the next step into the real world, I am proud to have called this place my home.