My fascination with the stars and the world around me is the preface for all of my ambitions. Starting out as conversations in my youth with my grandmother about Saturn’s rings and how they captivated my heart, I have always known that I want to be an aerospace engineer. I aspire to be a worldly engineer like no other. Bringing to life the things that were once just apparitions of my imagination is an amazing thing to think about. What’s even more mind-blowing is the thought of changing the world as we know it with my own two hands. The feats of engineering are something that allure me beyond words because it offers so many opportunities to impact humanity’s future. Due to the infancy of my career, my current research interests are broadly within the fields of astronomy, astrophysics, aerospace and mechanical. Enthralled by the thought of making my mark, I have already begun to prepare myself for my future career. I was mentored by inspirational senior research engineers while interning at the Georgia Tech Research Institute. On top of it being my first work experience, I consider it one of my most fulfilling strides toward a future career in engineering even as I struggled to learn the printed circuit board design software and toiled as I soldered microelectronic components onto my final PCB. During that time of designing, constructing and presenting a functional prototype of an aft bicycle safety system for distracted drivers, I gained confidence in knowing that I can create something that could save a life or even change the world. This past summer, I took my first leap to what I hope to be a fulfilling career in engineering. I worked as a systems engineering intern at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the United States ITER Project, an experimental fusion reactor being built in Southern France. Admittedly, I initially found it intimidating to be working at such an esteemed national laboratory where my peers were people ten years my senior that were working on their PhDs. I soon realized that I was immensely blessed to be around such wisdom and life experience. I gained background knowledge on things like nuclear fusion, plasma physics, and eigenmode propagation; I also was mentored, nurtured even, in planning my future career path. I was given invaluable advice on how to go about navigating my undergraduate experience and introduced to organizations that could serve to kickstart my career even further as I look into graduate studies in aerospace engineering. With the support of the amazing people I meet and resources I continue to be exposed to, I have no doubt that I will be able to realize my ambitions and make a lasting mark in my field. During my academic journey so far and with the culmination of all of my experiences, I have gained something introspectively every step of the way. I have acquired the drive to pursue a career in something as daunting as literal rocket science; I have found the confidence to work amongst other amazingly talented people and to even become inspired by them; finally, I discovered my inner fortitude to thrive even when things are challenging.

I have not allowed my career’s infancy to defer my success nor my exposure to many substantive experiences that have thus far bolstered my capabilities as an emerging leader in Aerospace. With pure ambition being the most abundant resource I have had available to me, I have always exceeded expectations inherent to someone of my station. Indeed, I am the master of my fate as shown by my countless initiatives to develop a skill set that uniquely equips me with the ability to make waves in the field of Aerospace. My drive and self-motivation can be seen clearly by my speedy leap into engineering during high school at the Georgia Tech Research Institute where I was trained and mentored in circuit theory, printed circuit board (PCB) design, and rapid prototyping. Not only was it my first bout of work experience, I consider it one of my most fulfilling strides toward a future career in engineering even as I initially struggled to learn the PCB design software and became captivated as I soldered microelectronic components onto my final PCB. During that time of designing, constructing, and presenting a functional prototype of an aft bicycle safety system for distracted drivers, I gained confidence in knowing that I can create something that could save a life or even change the world. The summer immediately preceding my high school graduation was one of my most transformative experiences as I dove into full-time work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The youngest intern on the entire lab site, I was mentored by a systems engineer for the United States ITER Project, an experimental nuclear fusion reactor based in Cadarache, France. My flexibility and adaptability were put to the test as I was introduced to new and unfamiliar concepts like nuclear fusion, plasma physics, and eigenmode propagation. Furthermore, my courage shone and my leadership skills matured as I coordinated with a multitude of people and teams to gain a clear picture of the different subsystems relating to my work. Even now as I traverse through my undergraduate years, I am still distinguishing myself amongst my peers. With limited funding, I was chosen by my peers in campus organizations to represent them in attendance at multiple Aerospace and engineering conferences across the country all within the span of my freshman year; I expanded my network and gained interest in many niche research topics in Aerospace including space trajectory optimization and mission design. I was also extended multiple undergraduate research assistantship offers from faculty at my university on projects ranging from magnetic shielding on Mars to additively manufactured thermoelectric materials that I continue to participate in to this day. Despite my overt ambition and noted professional development thus far, it occurred to me in the middle of my freshman year that I hit a metaphorical wall. I felt that I needed further discipline and leadership skills but could not see that happening to the extent that I wanted with the path ahead of me. The travails I sought out and have endured in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps was my answer. Bearing every day the responsibility of simultaneously being an effective leader and follower, never have I experienced a time where I was stretched and pushed like I have been the past couple semesters. Suffice it to say, I have emerged from my first year with bolstered confidence and a more commanding presence. My weaknesses and failures have been made plain to see on countless occasions and I have been put in a position to confront them every time. As I seek further counsel and mentorship, I have no doubt I’ll be in a position that allows for continued growth into a professional worthy of admiration and that could pay forward the amazing opportunities that have been presented to me.

I have not allowed my career’s infancy to defer my success nor my exposure to many substantive experiences that have thus far bolstered my capabilities as an emerging leader in Aerospace. With pure ambition being the most abundant resource I have had available to me, I have always exceeded expectations inherent to someone of my station. Indeed, I am the master of my fate as shown by my countless initiatives to develop a skill set that uniquely equips me with the ability to make waves in the field of Aerospace. My drive and self-motivation can be seen clearly by my speedy leap into engineering during high school at the Georgia Tech Research Institute where I was trained and mentored in circuit theory, printed circuit board (PCB) design, and rapid prototyping. Not only was it my first bout of work experience, I consider it one of my most fulfilling strides toward a future career in engineering even as I initially struggled to learn the PCB design software and became captivated as I soldered microelectronic components onto my final PCB. During that time of designing, constructing, and presenting a functional prototype of an aft bicycle safety system for distracted drivers, I gained confidence in knowing that I can create something that could save a life or even change the world. The summer immediately preceding my high school graduation was one of my most transformative experiences as I dove into full-time work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The youngest intern on the entire lab site, I was mentored by a systems engineer for the United States ITER Project, an experimental nuclear fusion reactor based in Cadarache, France. My flexibility and adaptability were put to the test as I was introduced to new and unfamiliar concepts like nuclear fusion, plasma physics, and eigenmode propagation. Furthermore, my courage shone and my leadership skills matured as I coordinated with a multitude of people and teams to gain a clear picture of the different subsystems relating to my work. Even now as I traverse through my undergraduate years, I am still distinguishing myself amongst my peers. With limited funding, I was chosen by my peers in campus organizations to represent them in attendance at multiple Aerospace and engineering conferences across the country all within the span of my freshman year; I expanded my network and gained interest in many niche research topics in Aerospace including space trajectory optimization and mission design. I was also extended multiple undergraduate research assistantship offers from faculty at my university on projects ranging from magnetic shielding on Mars to additively manufactured thermoelectric materials that I continue to participate in to this day. Despite my overt ambition and noted professional development thus far, it occurred to me in the middle of my freshman year that I hit a metaphorical wall. I felt that I needed further discipline and leadership skills but could not see that happening to the extent that I wanted with the path ahead of me. The travails I sought out and have endured in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps was my answer. Bearing every day the responsibility of simultaneously being an effective leader and follower, never have I experienced a time where I was stretched and pushed like I have been the past couple semesters. Suffice it to say, I have emerged from my first year with bolstered confidence and a more commanding presence. My weaknesses and failures have been made plain to see on countless occasions and I have been put in a position to confront them every time. As I seek further counsel and mentorship, I have no doubt I’ll be in a position that allows for continued growth into a professional worthy of admiration and that could pay forward the amazing opportunities that have been presented to me.

I have not allowed my career’s infancy to defer my success nor my exposure to many substantive experiences that have thus far bolstered my capabilities as an emerging leader in Aerospace. With pure ambition being the most abundant resource I have had available to me, I have always exceeded expectations inherent to someone of my station. Indeed, I am the master of my fate as shown by my countless initiatives to develop a skill set that uniquely equips me with the ability to make waves in the field of Aerospace. My drive and self-motivation can be seen clearly by my speedy leap into engineering during high school at the Georgia Tech Research Institute where I was trained and mentored in circuit theory, printed circuit board (PCB) design, and rapid prototyping. Not only was it my first bout of work experience, I consider it one of my most fulfilling strides toward a future career in engineering even as I initially struggled to learn the PCB design software and became captivated as I soldered microelectronic components onto my final PCB. During that time of designing, constructing, and presenting a functional prototype of an aft bicycle safety system for distracted drivers, I gained confidence in knowing that I can create something that could save a life or even change the world. The summer immediately preceding my high school graduation was one of my most transformative experiences as I dove into full-time work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The youngest intern on the entire lab site, I was mentored by a systems engineer for the United States ITER Project, an experimental nuclear fusion reactor based in Cadarache, France. My flexibility and adaptability were put to the test as I was introduced to new and unfamiliar concepts like nuclear fusion, plasma physics, and eigenmode propagation. Furthermore, my courage shone and my leadership skills matured as I coordinated with a multitude of people and teams to gain a clear picture of the different subsystems relating to my work. Even now as I traverse through my undergraduate years, I am still distinguishing myself amongst my peers. With limited funding, I was chosen by my peers in campus organizations to represent them in attendance at multiple Aerospace and engineering conferences across the country all within the span of my freshman year; I expanded my network and gained interest in many niche research topics in Aerospace including space trajectory optimization and mission design. I was also extended multiple undergraduate research assistantship offers from faculty at my university on projects ranging from magnetic shielding on Mars to additively manufactured thermoelectric materials that I continue to participate in to this day. Despite my overt ambition and noted professional development thus far, it occurred to me in the middle of my freshman year that I hit a metaphorical wall. I felt that I needed further discipline and leadership skills but could not see that happening to the extent that I wanted with the path ahead of me. The travails I sought out and have endured in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps was my answer. Bearing every day the responsibility of simultaneously being an effective leader and follower, never have I experienced a time where I was stretched and pushed like I have been the past couple of semesters. Suffice it to say, I have emerged from my first year with bolstered confidence and a more commanding presence. My weaknesses and failures have been made plain to see on countless occasions and I have been put in a position to confront them every time. As I seek further counsel and mentorship, I have no doubt I’ll be in a position that allows for continued growth into a professional worthy of admiration and that could pay forward the amazing opportunities that have been presented to me.