I love giving back to my community through different means from volunteering to education. Luckily, I had the opportunity to do both and be a part of the Mel Keystone Program. This program provides free tutoring services during the school year to grade school students in subjects they may struggle with. As a tutor and volunteer coordinator, I had to make sure the concepts were digestible to the students and that we had enough tutors every week. I wanted kids to know that learning can be fun and should not be deterred from asking for help when they are going through challenges like being confused about a subject. Additionally, I wanted to encourage kids to ask questions and tap into their curiosities, especially when it comes to education. If they were confident in what they were learning that week in school, we would do a new lesson and let them choose what they wanted to learn that week. Not only are they expanding their knowledge, but this allows them to figure out their interests. Through this wonderful experience, I learned how to lead. I realized that being a leader was not a specific title. A leader is someone who is responsible. A leader is someone who can make a difference whether that be small or big in one’s life and inspire others. With this in mind, I took the opportunity to intern at a STEAM school for their summer camp. Admittingly, I had no idea what to expect and the inner workings of the school. However, I learned so much from the teachers. These teachers came from many different backgrounds. Some had their own family, and others were pursuing their undergraduate degrees. Despite our differences in goals and careers, we all came to work at this school in order to encourage kids to explore creativity with a STEM-based curriculum. These teachers opened a new perspective for me and showed me how to be patient and more responsible. Most importantly, I was more appreciative of teachers and what they do. Eventually, we led students together through various STEAM activities and taught them the hows and whys of each activity. This experience taught me the importance of collaboration and inspired me to continue to encourage kids to be creative while solving challenges. As I continued to work at the school, I was reminded of my experience with STEAM at my school when I was in elementary. I was able to join a program at my elementary school that exposed me to STEAM and encouraged kids to be creative while solving challenges. I realized that I want to be able to help give children a similar or better opportunity as I pursue my career in engineering. Being able to foster both creativity and problem-solving in present and future generations can help solve current and future challenges.

I have always been curious about how buildings, houses, and other structures were built. I wanted to be in the room where they determined the materials needed and support for the structure. Because of this, I plan to pursue a structural engineering career and, first, major in civil engineering for my bachelor’s. Additionally, I want further educate myself and get a master’s in structural engineering. Furthermore, I want to be able to create and improve homes for people. I want to give hope to families that are in similar situations to my family. My parents couldn’t afford to fix parts of the house on top of paying off loans. I want to provide families with affordable and sustainable ways to build homes so that they don’t have to worry about hefty loans and struggles. To achieve this, I would explore research opportunities and classes in college to further study different materials in addition to financially and environmentally sustainable options as our world continue to change. As I grew older, I learned to give back to my community through different means from volunteering to education. Luckily, I had the opportunity to do both and be a part of the Mel Keystone Program. This program provides free tutoring services during the school year to grade school students in subjects they may struggle with. As a tutor and volunteer coordinator, I had to make sure the concepts were digestible to the students and that we had enough tutors every week. Through this, I learned how to lead. I realized that being a leader was not a specific title. A leader is someone who is responsible. A leader is someone who can make a difference whether that be small or big in one’s life and inspire others. This motivated me to help others not just during the school year but also in the summer. With this in mind, I had the opportunity to intern at a STEAM school for their summer camp. As an intern, I led students through various STEAM activities and taught them the hows and whys of each activity. As I worked at the school, this reminded me very much of my experience with STEAM at my school when I was in elementary. I was able to join a program at my elementary school that exposed me to STEAM and encouraged kids to be creative while solving challenges. I realized that I want to be able to help give children a similar opportunity so that they can continue to enjoy learning and be creative as they get older as I did and still am now. I want to reflect on this in college through similar leadership, as well. I see myself as a support to others and someone that people can reach out to if they are struggling in the campus community.

Growing up, I saw the world through many different lenses. I have woken up to many brownouts in the Philippines, had to sleep under mosquito nets, and walked under the city lights. Bouncing between different places opened my eyes to the world of structures. They come in many different shapes, sizes, materials, and designs. This began my fascination and curiosity about building. Buildings solve one of the fundamental needs for society: shelter. They provide comfort to individuals and families, so I want to be able to create and improve them for people. I want to give hope to future families that are in similar situations to my family. My parents couldn’t afford to fix parts of the house on top of paying off loans from previous fixes on other parts of our home. I want to provide families with more affordable and sustainable ways to build or renovate their homes so that they don’t have to worry about hefty loans and having to go through the process again of fixing in three to four years. In order to reach this goal, I want to study different materials in addition to exploring sustainable options as our world continues to change. Not only will this scholarship help fund my college studies, but this scholarship will also allow me to expand my knowledge on sustainability that is offered in my desired colleges where they have many undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare students for the changing world. I have always been curious about how buildings, houses, and other structures were built. I wanted to be in the room where they determined the materials needed and support for the structure. Because of this, I plan to pursue and expand my education, so I want to achieve a master's degree in Structural Engineering or Environmental Engineering. The research opportunities and classes that these colleges offer will help pave the way towards my goals. Additionally, they provide a variety of tracks within the civil engineering major offered. Specifically, I find the structural engineering track most in line with what I want to be. With the many opportunities at these colleges, I will gain a strong foundation once I graduate and be prepared in the field with the help of this scholarship. This will expand my creativity as I learn more and allow me to further adapt to future challenges with structures such as the changing climate.

You're always standing behind me when I keep going forward. I try to look back only for my eyes to never see. I let you hold my secrets so you can take it to my grave Yet you hold it above me, leaving moments sleepless. You embrace me with your worth, and hold my hand when I face adversity, but you show me my fears as I try to forget them on earth. You're the past yet so vivid, watching my every presence only for my future to become what you once committed. Past, my dear friend, is all that you are. I hold you close to my heart despite all is not warm for you are always behind me, standing from afar. You bear witness to my mistakes and watch as I explore every new path. I'll embrace you, as well, for you carry all these weights that hold so many heartbreaks.

I’ve always craved taking walks, but I was always deterred from walking alone. My mom told me that the streets are dangerous. They will take you. They will kidnap you. They will sell you. However, it didn’t look that way every time I looked out the window from my home. I saw people tall, short, running, jogging, and walking around the street all on their own. Despite the different activities they did, they all looked content with each step. I wanted to be in their shoes. I imagined the cool breeze brushing my skin and my hair in a tight ponytail swinging back and forth tickling the back of my neck as I counted the steps I could take in each block of the sidewalk and never looked back. I wanted that smell of freedom and that rush of independence. The furthest I’ve gone on my own was three or five houses down depending on where my school bus stopped. One day, though, I had the chance to explore a downtown area on my own. My brother wanted to visit his significant other in a different city, and my aunt coincidentally had business in that same city, so I took the opportunity to tag along. This was a big leap for me from the five-house walk in my neighborhood to the maze of a city, but I let curiosity and adrenaline turn my thoughts into action. My heart was pounding just from tying my shoelaces as I prepared to take my first steps out of the hotel room. My hands were shaking as I grabbed what I needed. So, my stroll began, and my mind was already everywhere. I kept glancing left, right, front, and back as my fears whispered through the wind. Cars rushed past. Honks and sirens in the distance. “It’s dangerous,” I thought. “What if I get taken? What if I can’t get help? What if I don’t make it back?” All these what ifs were in the pit of my stomach. I wanted to close my eyes like every other rollercoaster I’ve been to but I couldn’t. Instead, I turned to the nearest entrance and stumbled upon something unexpected, a mall. The stores were closed, and there were a couple of people setting up. I stayed and reflected in the quiet mall. Despite how prepared I was to be independent, I felt defeated. I couldn’t go on one simple walk so how can I survive in the real world? I wanted to crawl under the covers in my hotel room where it was warm, inviting, and safe. I had let my mom’s fears turn into mine, and that scared me even more. I didn’t want to be bound by my fears, so I took a deep breath from that quiet mall and walked back out into the street. I was more determined this time as I swatted those fearful whispers. Instead of worrying about what was on my left, right, front, or behind me, I wiped all my cold sweats away and counted my steps. The counts began to flow with the rhythm of the city. I was adjusting and saw beyond my fears. I saw families playing in a park, people walking their dogs, and chatter all around. Although I was nowhere near my destination, I felt purposeful amongst the crowds. I learned that my fears come in different forms, but they don’t define me. I have grown to be resilient and never settle. These fears won’t stop me from achieving my goals, and I can overcome these struggles.

Education is a necessity in our world. So many children are in unequal standing, and children in low-income areas often do not have the same opportunities as children in more affluent areas. I had the opportunity to help those that cannot afford to have a tutor and be a part of the Mel Keystone Program. This program provides free tutoring services during the school year to grade school students in subjects they may struggle with. As a tutor, I wanted kids to know that learning can be fun and should not be deterred from asking for help when they are going through challenges like being confused about a subject. Additionally, I wanted to encourage kids to ask questions and tap into their curiosities, especially when it comes to education. If they were confident in what they were learning that week in school, we would do a new lesson and let them choose what they wanted to learn that week. Not only are they expanding their knowledge, but this allows them to figure out their interests. This motivated me to help others not just during the school year but also in the summer. With this in mind, I had the opportunity to intern at a STEAM school for their summer camp. As an intern, I led students through various STEAM activities and taught them the hows and whys of each activity. As I worked at the school, this reminded me very much of my experience with STEAM at my school when I was in elementary. I was able to join a program at my elementary school that exposed me to STEAM and encouraged kids to be creative while solving challenges. I realized that I want to be able to help give children a similar opportunity so that they can continue to enjoy learning and be creative as they get older as I did and still am now. I want to reflect on this in college and beyond into my career through similar leadership, as well. I see myself as a support to others and someone that people can reach out to if they are struggling in the community.

My dream is to help people in the future in different ways. Growing up, I have always been curious about how buildings, houses, and other structures were built. I wanted to be in the room where they determined the materials needed and support for the structure. Because of this, I plan to pursue a structural engineering career and, first, major in civil engineering for my bachelor’s. Additionally, I want further educate myself and get a master’s in structural engineering. Furthermore, I want to be able to create and improve homes for people. I want to give hope to families that are in similar situations to my family. My parents couldn’t afford to fix parts of the house on top of paying off loans. I want to provide families with affordable and sustainable ways to build homes so that they don’t have to worry about hefty loans and struggles. To achieve this, I would explore research opportunities and classes in college to further study different materials in addition to financially and environmentally sustainable options as our world continue to change. As I grew older, I learned to give back to my community through different means from volunteering to education. Luckily, I had the opportunity to do both and be a part of the Mel Keystone Program. This program provides free tutoring services during the school year to grade school students in subjects they may struggle with. As a tutor and volunteer coordinator, I had to make sure the concepts were digestible to the students and that we had enough tutors every week. Through this, I learned how to lead. I realized that being a leader was not a specific title. A leader is someone who is responsible. A leader is someone who can make a difference whether that be small or big in one’s life and inspire others. This motivated me to help others not just during the school year but also in the summer. With this in mind, I had the opportunity to intern at a STEAM school for their summer camp. As an intern, I led students through various STEAM activities and taught them the hows and whys of each activity. As I worked at the school, this reminded me very much of my experience with STEAM at my school when I was in elementary. I was able to join a program at my elementary school that exposed me to STEAM and encouraged kids to be creative while solving challenges. I realized that I want to be able to help give children a similar opportunity so that they can continue to enjoy learning and be creative as they get older as I did and still am now. I want to reflect on this in college through similar leadership, as well. I see myself as a support to others and someone that people can reach out to if they are struggling in the campus community.

As I do my homework and eat my pizza at the Pizza Hut court in Target, I glance back and forth watching my grandma, Lola, give a big smile to each and every customer. When I was little, my mom was in the Philippines at the time and my dad worked long hours, so I would get dropped off at Target after school and be looked after by Lola, who worked as a cashier. Everyone knew my grandma. From the security guards to new customers, Lola was kind to them all. There’s a warm greeting whenever they come to her register and a hearty goodbye. Before she left work, she would always say “mabuhay!”, which is a Filipino greeting and means good wishes, to all her coworkers and customers. This was so different from what I was used to. I always kept to myself and was shy, but my grandma was so comfortable with the people around her. At that time, I realized what a community is. A community is all about building relationships with people and giving. Her coworkers, customers, and Target was her community. She gave her time and effort to the people around her. Her work became her community, and she loved what she did. Through this, I learned that I should do what I love and that there’s always a community that has your back. This is the first year without Lola, but what I have learned from her will stay with me forever. She has taught and motivated me to do what I love and always give back. I know she will always be a part of my community and will have my back. Everything takes time and effort, so I should never give up and strive for my goals.

Buildings solve one of the fundamental needs for society: shelter. They provide comfort to individuals and families, so I want to be able to create and improve them for people. During one summer, I saved up my earnings and started my first home project: my room. I moved all my things out of my room and made a blank canvas for myself. I ripped out the bent flooring and replaced it with more durable flooring. I peeled out fading hues and painted the walls anew. I filled the cracked walls with a joint compound. All of these fixes were only temporary, but this encouraged me to look beyond my room. I thought about how my home was built and the growing costs that went into this. I began to see a growing issue. I want to give hope to future families that are in similar situations like my family. My parents couldn’t afford to fix parts of the house on top of paying off loans from previous fixes on other parts of our home. I want to provide families with more affordable and sustainable ways to build or renovate their homes so that they don’t have to worry about hefty loans and having to go through the process again of fixing in three to four years. In order to reach this goal, I plan to pursue a structural engineering career and, first, major in civil engineering. Additionally, I want to further my education by achieving a master's in Structural Engineering. I want to use my education in college to study different materials in addition to exploring sustainable options as our world continues to change.

Engineering has always been a part of my life. I was introduced to engineering when I joined a problem-solving competition called Destination Imagination in elementary school. We did an engineering challenge where we had to design and build a structure with only wood and glue that could withstand weights being added on top of it as weights were taken away from the structure. With no experience or expansive vocabulary about what a structure was, this task seemed daunting to my ten-year-old self. However, with guidance from my mentors and the power of teamwork, we were able to rise to the occasion and later placed twelfth in a global competition for that year. I have continued to participate in this competition for seven years now, going from a child to a mentor and leader for my team. As I learned more about engineering, I began to do improvements in my own home. One summer, I moved all my things out of my room and made a blank canvas for myself. I ripped out the cupped flooring and peeling walls. I filled the cracked walls with a joint compound. All of these fixes were only temporary, but this encouraged me to look beyond my room and look at our world. Throughout these experiences, I learned to take initiative, be curious, and collaborate as a team. I want to encourage others to combine their creativity with problem-solving, especially with our changing planet. As I got older, I became more curious about how buildings, houses, and other structures were built. I wanted to be in the room where they determined the materials needed and support for the structure. Because of this, I plan to pursue a structural engineering career and, first, major in civil engineering for my bachelor’s. Additionally, I want further educate myself and get a master’s in structural engineering. Furthermore, I want to be able to create and improve them for people using my future education as a strong foundation for this goal. I want to give hope to future families that are in similar situations to my family. My parents couldn’t afford to fix parts of the house on top of paying off loans from previous fixes on other parts of our home. I want to provide families with more affordable and sustainable ways to build or renovate their homes so that they don’t have to worry about hefty loans and having to go through the process again of fixing in three to four years. Exploring research opportunities and classes in college would allow me to study different materials in addition to exploring sustainable options as our world continues to change.