Adversity has a way of shaping not just our present but also the path we choose for the future. Fascinated by technology and space, I’ve always dreamed of becoming a mechanical engineer and contributing to groundbreaking work at companies like NASA and SpaceX. Overcoming financial hardships and balancing academic and family responsibilities have taught me resilience, discipline, and the value of hard work, qualities that will guide me in my academic and professional journey. Growing up, my family always faced persistent financial challenges. Just recently, my father was out of work due to a back injury, which significantly reduced our household income from one that was already low to one that became even lower. For instance, my entire life, I’ve had to share a room with two siblings, and household repairs have always taken much longer than expected due to limited finances. We also have always relied heavily on food pantries for necessities we couldn’t always afford. Despite these hardships, my father’s unwavering dedication to providing for us has always inspired me. He has always worked at a job that he never found enjoyable in order to provide for my family and help give us access to significant opportunities that he was never given. These experiences taught me to adapt to difficult circumstances and persevere. While others around me might have simpler lives, I’ve learned to tackle my challenges head-on, refusing to let them limit my potential. These tough situations have made me resourceful, taught me to make the best out of a tough situation, and taught me the importance of being able to live within a tight budget. I find excitement and balance in life through sports and helping others. However, managing these activities alongside rigorous AP courses and a busy home environment hasn’t been easy. Late nights after sports events often meant staying up even later to finish assignments, and for many weeks I’d have to repeat the process repeatedly, sometimes averaging 2-3 hours of sleep a night. To overcome this, I sought support through tutoring services and teacher office hours. In addition, as my mindset shifted and I learned from these challenges, I developed better time management skills and a stronger work ethic, which reduced the number of stressful all-nighters I had to pull off. These challenges have helped me grow by teaching me discipline, efficient time management, and how to maximize the resources available to me. As previously mentioned, I plan to major in mechanical engineering and aspire to go beyond a bachelor’s degree by earning a master’s degree. I’ve always enjoyed math, creative problem-solving, and discovering new processes which are all skills that align with my career goals. Along with inspiration from space exploration companies, these qualities have solidified my decision to pursue mechanical engineering. The challenges I’ve faced have shaped me into a determined and resilient individual who is ready to excel in mechanical engineering. I hope to use my success to make meaningful contributions and help make the world a better place.