Welding, to me, is a profound form of art. The act of chipping away the slag to reveal a meticulously crafted bead is a deeply satisfying experience. My love affair with welding began four years ago in my survey of Agriculture class, and since then, I find myself irresistibly drawn to the shop. I am proud to be a woman in welding, set to become the second generation of female welders in my family. Despite this legacy, I have the opportunity to attend welding school in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where I intend to specialize in TIG welding upon graduation. Unlike many, I do not relish the confines of traditional schooling. Instead, I eagerly await each day, knowing it brings me one step closer to graduation. The prospect of working in the field excites me far more than sitting in a classroom, learning concepts I may never use or fully grasp. This year, I made the choice not to pursue virtual learning in order to remain active in the Future Farmers of America (FFA), an organization that has been my anchor for the past four years. Through FFA, I have honed my public speaking skills and gained a profound appreciation for the significance of trades and agriculture. I am also deeply involved in community service through both FFA and Pageants, holding a county title in the Miss United States Agriculture pageant system. My platform focuses on promoting welding education and empowering women in welding. My mother, a single parent raising three girls, is a welder herself, working tirelessly to provide for us, often putting in 80-hour workweeks. Her unwavering support has been instrumental in my journey. The school I have chosen comes with a hefty price tag, one that we cannot afford out of pocket if the FAFSA does not cover it entirely. Currently, I have a $500 scholarship from Tulsa Welding School, earned through participation in a welding competition. Despite my lower ACT score and GPA, I am tirelessly pursuing additional scholarships to ease the financial burden of attending welding school. My mother's encouragement is a constant reminder of my potential to break the cycle of financial struggle in our family. I want the best for myself and so does my mom. She doesn't want me to start late in life like she did. I am doing everything I can to break the standards in my family that we shouldn't have.