Growing up, I loved playing outside whether it was playing ball, or riding my bike. I loved getting my hands dirty with his tools. Always following my father wherever he went. I was Daddy’s little girl. One day my father and I went to visit my uncle. I remember seeing sparks in his garage. I ran towards him. I was so intrigued. Asking questions. It was my first time seeing the welding techniques in action. I fell in love with it! I told my father that when I grew up I was going to be a welder. He said to me “Serena, That's a man's job, you crazy child “ I was confused and had mixed feelings. I didn't want to make him sad or upset so I didn't mention that subject again. It was all good. We took family vacations and I loved it. My life was perfect well at least I thought it was. I was a kid only ten years old. Then one day my world fell apart. My father my hero left me and never came back. I was so hurt so heartbroken I didn't understand why. I was too young to understand divorce. Life did a whole 360 on us. We lost our home and kept moving from house to house. We never had our own home again. I saw my mother struggling but she never threw the towel. With little money she always made it happen. Always pushing my siblings and me in school. Her words were “The sky is the limit” and “You can do anything you set your mind to “ Years passed and I still yearned for welding. I was In high school when I joined a welding class. I put my whole heart into it. They chose me to compete with other high school students from other cities. I remember being the only girl in that category. I was a bit nervous, but guess what I placed first! I had a moment of shock. At that moment the first thought that came into my head was what my father once told me, welding is a man's job. But hey here I was competing with boys. And I beat them! I graduated from high school in 2020 with a high school diploma and as a certified welder. After high school, my journey continued in California. Worked in welding jobs for 3 years but still felt something was missing in my life. I wanted to pursue a career in underwater welding. I saved every penny to move back to Texas. So here I am today where I am going to do everything possible to get underwater training. To me, welding isn't just a career, it's my passion. Looking back on my life, Mama knows better and she was right all along “You can do anything you set your mind to” The sky is the limit” Who said welding was for men only?

Scholarship Essay Growing up, I loved playing outside whether it was playing ball, or riding my bike. I loved getting my hands dirty with his tools. Always following my father wherever he went. I was Daddy’s little girl. One day my father and I went to visit my uncle. I remember seeing sparks in his garage. I ran towards him. I was so intrigued. Asking questions. It was my first time seeing the welding techniques in action. I fell in love with it! I told my father that when I grew up I was going to be a welder. He said to me “Serena, That's a man's job, you crazy child “ I was confused and had mixed feelings. I didn't want to make him sad or upset so I didn't mention that subject again. It was all good. We took family vacations and I loved it. My life was perfect well at least I thought it was. I was a kid only ten years old. Then one day my world fell apart. My father my hero left me and never came back. I was so hurt so heartbroken I didn't understand why. I was too young to understand divorce. Life did a whole 360 on us. We lost our home and kept moving from house to house. We never had our own home again. I saw my mother struggling but she never threw the towel. With little money she always made it happen. Always pushing my siblings and me in school. Her words were “The sky is the limit” and “You can do anything you set your mind to “ Years passed and I still yearned for welding. I was In high school when I joined a welding class. I put my whole heart into it. They chose me to compete with other high school students from other cities. I remember being the only girl in that category. I was a bit nervous, but guess what I placed first! I had a moment of shock. At that moment the first thought that came into my head was what my father once told me, welding is a man's job. But hey here I was competing with boys. And I beat them! I graduated from high school in 2020 with a high school diploma and as a certified welder. After high school, my journey continued in California. Worked in welding jobs for 3 years but still felt something was missing in my life. I wanted to pursue a career in underwater welding. I saved every penny to move back to Texas. So here I am today where I am going to do everything possible to get underwater training. To me, welding isn't just a career, it's my passion. Looking back on my life, Mama knows better and she was right all along “You can do anything you set your mind to” The sky is the limit” Who said welding was for men only?

Growing up, I loved playing outside whether it was playing ball, or riding my bike. I loved getting my hands dirty with his tools. Always following my father wherever he went. I was Daddy’s little girl. One day my father and I went to visit my uncle. I remember seeing sparks in his garage. I ran towards him. I was so intrigued. Asking questions. It was my first time seeing the welding techniques in action. I fell in love with it! I told my father that when I grew up I was going to be a welder. He said to me “Serena, That's a man's job, you crazy child “ I was confused and had mixed feelings. I didn't want to make him sad or upset so I didn't mention that subject again. It was all good. We took family vacations and I loved it. My life was perfect well at least I thought it was. I was a kid only ten years old. Then one day my world fell apart. My father my hero left me and never came back. I was so hurt so heartbroken I didn't understand why. I was too young to understand divorce. Life did a whole 360 on us. We lost our home and kept moving from house to house. We never had our own home again. I saw my mother struggling but she never threw the towel. With little money she always made it happen. Always pushing my siblings and me in school. Her words were “The sky is the limit” and “You can do anything you set your mind to “ Years passed and I still yearned for welding. I was In high school when I joined a welding class. I put my whole heart into it. They chose me to compete with other high school students from other cities. I remember being the only girl in that category. I was a bit nervous, but guess what I placed first! I had a moment of shock. At that moment the first thought that came into my head was what my father once told me, welding is a man's job. But hey here I was competing with boys. And I beat them! I graduated from high school in 2020 with a high school diploma and as a certified welder. After high school, my journey continued in California. Worked in welding jobs for 3 years but still felt something was missing in my life. I wanted to pursue a career in underwater welding. I saved every penny to move back to Texas. So here I am today where I am going to do everything possible to get underwater training. To me, welding isn't just a career, it's my passion. Looking back on my life, Mama knows better and she was right all along “You can do anything you set your mind to” The sky is the limit” Who said welding was for men only?

Growing up, I loved playing outside whether it was playing ball, or riding my bike. I loved getting my hands dirty with his tools. Always following my father wherever he went. I was Daddy’s little girl. One day my father and I went to visit my uncle. I remember seeing sparks in his garage. I ran towards him. I was so intrigued. Asking questions. It was my first time seeing the welding techniques in action. I fell in love with it! I told my father that when I grew up I was going to be a welder. He said to me “Serena, That's a man's job, you crazy child “ I was confused and had mixed feelings. I didn't want to make him sad or upset so I didn't mention that subject again. It was all good. We took family vacations and I loved it. My life was perfect well at least I thought it was. I was a kid only ten years old. Then one day my world fell apart. My father my hero left me and never came back. I was so hurt so heartbroken I didn't understand why. I was too young to understand divorce. Life did a whole 360 on us. We lost our home and kept moving from house to house. We never had our own home again. I saw my mother struggling but she never threw the towel. With little money she always made it happen. Always pushing my siblings and me in school. Her words were “The sky is the limit” and “You can do anything you set your mind to “ Years passed and I still yearned for welding. I was In high school when I joined a welding class. I put my whole heart into it. They chose me to compete with other high school students from other cities. I remember being the only girl in that category. I was a bit nervous, but guess what I placed first! I had a moment of shock. At that moment the first thought that came into my head was what my father once told me, welding is a man's job. But hey here I was competing with boys. And I beat them! I graduated from high school in 2020 with a high school diploma and as a certified welder. After high school, my journey continued in California. Worked in welding jobs for 3 years but still felt something was missing in my life. I wanted to pursue a career in underwater welding. I saved every penny to move back to Texas. So here I am today where I am going to do everything possible to get underwater training. To me, welding isn't just a career, it's my passion. Looking back on my life, Mama knows better and she was right all along “You can do anything you set your mind to” The sky is the limit” Who said welding was for men only?