My hand hovered just above the desk. I already knew the question I wanted to ask. I had been rehearsing it in my head for the last five minutes, but the more I looked around the room, the more I wondered if I should stay quiet. I was one of the few women of color in the lab, and I couldn't shake the fear that asking a simple question would somehow prove the doubts I already carried about myself. Standing in that lab, I realized the hesitation I felt hadn't started there. It had been following me long before college. I chose to pursue STEM during my freshman year of high school. I thought engineering would come naturally because I had always done well in school. When my first difficult semester challenged that belief, I began to question whether I truly belonged. That feeling wasn't entirely new. As a woman of color pursuing engineering, I had already experienced the quiet voice that asks whether you're capable of taking up space in a field where you rarely see people who look like you. Despite that voice telling me I was aiming too high, something deeper always pushed back. I was fascinated by understanding how things worked, and I wanted to build solutions that could improve people's lives. Every difficult math problem I solved, every engineering project I completed, and every mentor I connected with strengthened that conviction. When I attended my engineering orientation, I looked around the room and noticed that most of my peers were white men. No one had to tell me I didn't belong for doubt to creep in. Later, there were moments when classmates assumed I knew less than they did or explained concepts I hadn't asked them to explain. Even asking thoughtful questions sometimes felt like confirming the stereotypes I feared others might hold. Over time, I realized those experiences did not define my ability to become an engineer. Engineering gave me something much more valuable than technical knowledge. It taught me that curiosity is not something to apologize for. It is the very quality that makes a good engineer. Having lived with progressive myopia since seventh grade, I hope to combine biomedical engineering and vision science to develop technologies that slow myopia progression. I want to create solutions that improve people's quality of life while showing young students—especially those who rarely see themselves represented in STEM—that they belong in these spaces, too. So I raise my hand. For myself. For the girls whose questions never leave their notebooks. For the students of color who have learned to shrink themselves before anyone else asks them to. I leave with a deeper understanding of the material, but more importantly, with the realization that curiosity is not evidence of inadequacy. It is the foundation of every engineer I hope to become. One day, I hope my work gives someone else the confidence to raise theirs.

Ten years from now, I hope to be the founder of Sunshine Lenses, a company dedicated to developing innovative eyewear technology designed to help slow the progression of myopia. My goal is to build a company at the intersection of mechanical engineering, biomedical research, and entrepreneurship, creating products that improve the lives of people who face vision challenges. My interest in this field comes from personal experience. Throughout my teenage years, I struggled with myopia and experienced firsthand how frustrating it can be to watch your vision continue to worsen. I began asking questions about why myopia is becoming increasingly common and what could be done to prevent its progression. Instead of accepting it as a problem without a solution, I became interested in using engineering to create one. In the next ten years, I plan to continue developing the technical knowledge and research experience necessary to turn this idea into reality. As a mechanical engineering student, I want to focus on learning about product design, materials, biomedical applications, and the research behind vision science. I have already begun researching myopia progression and exploring how technology inspired by the beneficial effects of natural light could potentially be incorporated into innovative eyewear. My entrepreneurial goals are also influenced by my background. I grew up around entrepreneurship because my parents have built their own businesses, showing me the creativity, persistence, and risk-taking required to create something from the ground up. In high school, I participated in Junior Achievement and earned second place at my county competition, where I gained early experience developing and presenting a business idea. That experience showed me that entrepreneurship is not just about having an idea; it is about understanding a problem, creating a solution, and convincing others that the solution matters. By ten years from now, I hope Sunshine Lenses has grown from an idea into a company that helps children and families protect their vision. I want to create a product that is scientifically meaningful, accessible, and designed with the people who use it in mind. I also hope to create opportunities for other engineers, researchers, and innovators who share the same desire to solve important problems. My biggest goal is to become the type of engineer who does not simply enter an existing industry, but helps shape the future of one. I want my education to give me the skills to transform ideas into reality and prove that engineering can be used not only to build technology, but to improve the everyday lives of people around the world.

The first time I realized I was entering a world my family had never experienced was when I opened my first college application. I had questions about financial aid, scholarships, deadlines, and decisions that would shape my future, but there was no one at home who could answer them. My family knew how to work hard, build a life, and overcome challenges, but they did not know how to navigate the hidden pathways of higher education. My family’s success has never been defined by degrees. My father immigrated to the United States from Lebanon and built a life through determination and perseverance, despite never having the opportunity to graduate high school. His journey taught me the value of resilience, but it also meant that pursuing college required me to step into unfamiliar territory alone. I became the first person in my family to pursue this level of education, entering a system that seemed to have been designed with a handbook I had never received. I quickly learned that college was not only an academic challenge, it was a navigation challenge. I had to teach myself how to apply, how to search for scholarships, how to understand financial aid, and how to make decisions about my future without the guidance many students receive from previous generations. I took responsibility for funding my education, using my own savings to support my first year of college. There were moments when I questioned whether I could carry the weight of this responsibility, but each challenge strengthened my determination. Being an outsider to the system has shaped the way I view education. I do not see my lack of a roadmap as a disadvantage; I see it as proof that I am capable of creating one. Every scholarship application I complete, every opportunity I pursue, and every milestone I reach represents a path being built not only for myself, but for those who come after me. As a mechanical engineering student, I hope to use this education to create solutions that improve lives through research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. My experiences in engineering research, including my project exploring ferrofluids for removing pesticides from contaminated water, showed me the power of using knowledge to address real-world problems. My greatest hope is that my education becomes the first chapter of a new tradition in my family. I want future generations to see higher education not as an unfamiliar world they must enter alone, but as a door that has already been opened for them. I am building a bridge between where my family began and where we can go next.

My immigrant experience has shaped not only the way I approach education, but also the reason I value it so deeply. My father immigrated to the United States from Lebanon with the hope of building a better future for his family. He arrived with determination and resilience, but without many of the opportunities that others may take for granted. He never had the chance to graduate high school, yet he taught me one of the most important lessons I have ever learned: education is a privilege worth pursuing. Growing up as the child of an immigrant meant that my path through higher education looked different from many of my peers. My family supported my dreams, but they did not have firsthand experience navigating the American college system. When I began preparing for college, I had to learn many aspects of the process independently, from understanding applications and financial aid to finding opportunities that would help me grow academically and professionally. Without a family roadmap to follow, I learned to become my own advocate and seek out the resources I needed to succeed. This independence has shaped me into a more determined and resilient student. Pursuing an engineering degree requires dedication, curiosity, and the ability to overcome challenges, and my background has strengthened those qualities within me. Rather than seeing the lack of a traditional path as a limitation, I have learned to view it as an opportunity to build something new. Every accomplishment I earn represents not only my own effort, but also the sacrifices my father made when he came to this country. My immigrant background has also influenced the goals I have chosen to pursue. As a mechanical engineering student, I hope to use research, innovation, and entrepreneurship to create solutions that improve people’s lives. My experiences in engineering research, including my project investigating the use of ferrofluids to remove pesticides from contaminated water, showed me the importance of developing technology that addresses real-world problems. I hope to continue creating solutions that make a meaningful impact on communities. Being the child of an immigrant has taught me that success is not always about having every resource available from the beginning. Sometimes it is about learning, adapting, and creating opportunities where they did not previously exist. My education represents the continuation of my father’s journey and the pursuit of a future that was once only a dream. I am determined to honor his sacrifices by using my education to contribute to the world, inspire others, and prove that the circumstances of one’s beginning do not define the possibilities of their future.

My career goal is to become an engineer who uses innovation and research to create solutions that improve people’s lives. As a mechanical engineering student at the University of Central Florida, I am passionate about combining engineering, science, and creativity to address challenges in areas such as biomedical technology and sustainability. I want my future career to be defined not only by what I create, but by the positive impact those creations have on communities. My interest in engineering grew from my experiences with research and problem-solving. One of the most meaningful steps I have taken toward my goals was completing an engineering research project exploring whether ferrofluids could be used to remove pesticides from contaminated water. Through this project, I learned how engineering can transform curiosity into solutions for real-world problems. I spent time researching, experimenting, analyzing results, and adapting my approach, which strengthened my ability to think critically and persevere through challenges. My work was recognized with first place at my county science fair and an honorable mention at the state level, but the most valuable outcome was discovering my passion for research-driven innovation. As I continue my education, I am taking steps to expand my knowledge and experience in engineering. I am pursuing a rigorous mechanical engineering curriculum, seeking opportunities to participate in research, and developing the technical skills needed to design and build meaningful solutions. I am particularly interested in biomedical engineering and hope to research technologies that improve human health, including innovative approaches to slowing myopia progression and making preventative care more accessible. My journey toward engineering has also been shaped by the obstacles I have had to overcome. As someone from an immigrant family, I have learned to navigate many aspects of higher education independently. My father immigrated to the United States from Lebanon and did not have the opportunity to complete high school, so I entered college without a family roadmap for navigating applications, academics, or career development. Instead, I learned to seek opportunities, advocate for myself, and build my own path. I know that representation and support matter in STEM fields. The encouragement of black women, like me, pursuing engineering is essential because innovation is strongest when people with different experiences and perspectives are able to contribute. I hope to not only succeed as an engineer, but also inspire others who may not see themselves represented in these fields. Every step I have taken, from conducting research to pursuing my engineering education, has brought me closer to my goal of creating technology that makes a difference. I am committed to continuing this journey with curiosity, determination, and the belief that engineering can be a powerful tool for improving the world around us.

Design has the power to shape the future. To me, design is not simply about creating objects that are functional or visually appealing; it is about thoughtfully developing solutions that consider people, resources, and the environment. As a mechanical engineering student, I am interested in sustainable and biomedical design, where innovation can be used to address challenges that impact communities around the world. My passion for sustainable design began through my research project exploring whether ferrofluids could be used to remove pesticides from contaminated water. This project introduced me to the idea that engineering solutions can work with the environment rather than against it. By investigating a potential method for water purification, I learned how thoughtful material selection, experimentation, and design choices can contribute to solving environmental problems. This experience earned me first place at my county science fair and an honorable mention at the state level, but more importantly, it changed the way I viewed engineering. I realized that the most impactful designs are those created with both innovation and responsibility in mind. As I continue my education in mechanical engineering, I want sustainability to remain at the center of my future work. I hope to design technologies that not only solve immediate problems but also consider their long-term effects on people and the planet. Whether developing medical devices, sustainable products, or new technologies, I want to prioritize materials, manufacturing processes, and designs that reduce waste and improve accessibility. One area I am particularly interested in is biomedical technology. I hope to research and develop innovative eyewear solutions that help slow myopia progression by exploring how engineering can replicate beneficial aspects of natural environments. This type of product design requires consideration of affordability, environmental impact, and the needs of the people who will use it. I believe the future of engineering depends on designers who recognize that every creation has an impact. Sustainable design means asking not only, “Can we build this?” but also, “Should we build this, and how can we build it responsibly?” My goal is to become an engineer and entrepreneur who develops solutions that improve quality of life while protecting the world we share. Through my education, research, and future career, I hope to contribute to a new generation of designers who see sustainability not as a limitation, but as an opportunity to create more thoughtful, innovative, and impactful solutions.

Every story has a turning point, a moment when a path that once felt uncertain begins to come into focus. For me, that moment came through my first engineering research project, where I explored whether ferrofluids could be used to remove pesticides from contaminated water. What began as a question driven by curiosity became an experience that changed the way I saw science, engineering, and my own potential. Before this project, I viewed science as something I learned in classrooms and engineering as a field built around solving technical problems. However, through research, I discovered that engineering is much more than formulas and designs. It is a way of looking at the world, identifying challenges, and creating solutions that can improve the lives of others. The idea that a material I was studying could potentially help address environmental contamination showed me the power of innovation when it is guided by purpose. This project challenged me to become a better problem solver. I spent countless hours researching, testing, analyzing results, and adjusting my approach when things did not work as expected. I learned that meaningful discoveries rarely happen immediately; they require patience, resilience, and the willingness to continue learning. Seeing my work recognized with first place at my county science fair and an honorable mention at the state level reinforced my belief that research was not just an interest, but a path I wanted to pursue. My passion for engineering has also been shaped by my family’s journey. My father immigrated to the United States from Lebanon and never had the opportunity to graduate high school. Although he could not guide me through the college experience firsthand, he gave me something equally important: the determination to pursue opportunities that were unavailable to previous generations of my family. Navigating higher education largely independently has taught me how to advocate for myself, seek opportunities, and build my own path. As I continue my education in mechanical engineering, I hope to use research, innovation, and entrepreneurship to solve problems that impact communities. My goal is to contribute to advancements in areas such as biomedical technology and develop solutions that improve everyday life. My interest in researching myopia progression and creating innovative eyewear technology reflects my desire to transform scientific ideas into accessible solutions. The future I am building is inspired by both curiosity and purpose. My education represents more than personal achievement; it represents my family’s sacrifices, my commitment to growth, and my responsibility to use the opportunities I have been given to create meaningful change. I hope to become the kind of engineer who does not simply observe problems, but actively works to solve them and inspire others to do the same.

I am a mechanical engineering student at the University of Central Florida driven by a desire to use innovation to solve problems that improve people's lives. My journey toward higher education has been shaped by perseverance, curiosity, and the sacrifices of my family. My father immigrated to the United States from Lebanon without the opportunity to graduate high school. Although he did not have the chance to pursue higher education himself, he instilled in me the belief that education is one of the most powerful tools for creating a better future. As I entered college, I quickly learned that pursuing higher education meant navigating many challenges independently. Without a family background in the American college system, I had to learn how to find opportunities, make academic decisions, and build my future largely on my own. This experience has strengthened my independence and motivated me to make the most of every opportunity I receive. Through my studies in engineering, I have discovered my passion for combining science, technology, and creativity to address real-world challenges. One area that deeply interests me is the growing problem of myopia, or nearsightedness, especially among children and young adults. As more people spend increased amounts of time indoors, I want to explore how engineering can contribute to solutions that support healthier vision. My long-term goal is to research methods of slowing myopia progression and develop innovative eyewear technology that can help protect children’s vision. I am interested in exploring how the beneficial effects of natural light can be replicated through advanced technology, similar to specialized lighting systems used in agriculture to influence plant growth. By combining engineering design, biomedical research, and entrepreneurship, I hope to create glasses that are not only scientifically effective but also accessible to the people who need them most. After completing my education, I hope to build a company dedicated to transforming this research into a practical solution. I want to bridge the gap between scientific discoveries and everyday life by creating technology that improves health outcomes and empowers families to take preventative action. My education is not only a personal achievement; it represents the continuation of my family’s pursuit of opportunity. The sacrifices my father made when he immigrated to this country gave me the chance to dream beyond what was possible for previous generations. I hope to honor those sacrifices by using my education to create meaningful change and inspire others to pursue their own paths of innovation and discovery.