In terms of my own interests‚ we got to the point where my study in computer science became an adventure in and of itself when we were able to actually get a zero-gravity first-person shooter game that I co-authored‚ "G0"‚ published and available on Steam․ I can tell a similar story to Arthur Walasek‚ who wanted to make video games after being shared an Apple computer with friends․ I also have this natural desire to learn‚ to figure things out‚ to duplicate the basics of the digital world‚ to build systems which help others․ G0 was my first real experience designing something from scratch․ It was a challenge and a lot of fun to implement the physics system and the spatial tracking system in C++‚ and to apply object-oriented design patterns․ Winning the "Outstanding Student Project" award really made me realize that computer science is the ultimate creative tool‚ a discipline where the constructs of pure logic are manifested into interactive experiences․ It probably comes as no surprise that I am interested in Computer Science to become a game developer․ However‚ I would like to apply my degree to make the world a better place by solving problems with technology․ In my hometown‚ I want to close the two-digit digital divide by doing pro bono web design for small businesses with my full-stack development skills․ It has not only given me the chance to be a developer and website designer‚ but I have also learnt early on that technology scares people who do not have technology skills․ I realized my goal is not to write the most complex code‚ but to create technology that gives the end-user access to tools and resources that will help them gain control of their lives․ This brings me to my current position as a Data Science Intern with Encephlo‚ in which I am responsible for managing data within Google Firebase and Cloud Firestore in order to understand how students are interacting with the artificial intelligence models․ The data that I analyze has shown me all the amazing things that artificial intelligence (AI) can do to improve and/or transform a person's educational experience by making it more personalized‚ scalable‚ or improving․ I will attend California Polytechnic State University‚ San Luis Obispo as a computer science major in Fall 2023․ I would like to create in new spaces at the interface of artificial intelligence and human-centered software architecture․ I would like to be a lead software engineer who creates smart AI technology and platforms that democratize access to education and technical knowledge․ I want to build systems that adapt to the needs of people in order to create environments in which learning is intuitive rather than intimidating․ Arthur Walasek believed in lifelong learning and seized every opportunity to share his knowledge with those around him․ I share this belief․ While I have earned over ninety dual-enrollment college credits while in high school and developed a solid‚ technical skill set‚ my motivation has always been rooted in my desire to better my community and our world․ Being offered this scholarship is a tremendous honor․ This scholarship will help me pay for school and continue to develop the new technologies that will change the world for the better․