Throughout my childhood, my ambitions and career goals shifted constantly. At one point, I wanted to be a doctor; then I considered becoming a teacher, a math professor, a lawyer, and so on. It wasn’t until recently that I finally settled on one goal—a newfound passion of mine: computer science. Ironically, for most of my life, I hardly even knew what computer science was. However, I’ve always been fascinated by technology. I was the go-to person for troubleshooting tech issues among my family and friends, earning the label of being "tech-savvy" from a young age. When I was first introduced to coding, it felt natural—like a skill I had been unknowingly preparing for my whole life. To my parents and those who knew me, it was no surprise that I took to it so quickly. But as I delved deeper, I realized that computer science wasn’t just about writing a few lines of code; it was a complex, ever-evolving field that demanded persistence, problem-solving, and a deep understanding of intricate concepts. At times, the difficulty intimidated me. Social media is filled with stories from current and former computer science students who describe the coursework as unbearably tough. Seeing their struggles planted seeds of doubt in my mind—was I really capable of succeeding in this field? Would I reach a point where I could no longer keep up? These fears made me hesitate, making me wonder if I was making the right choice. But beyond the difficulty of the subject itself, I also faced another challenge—one that I could not debug or solve with a simple line of code. As a woman of color pursuing STEM, I often find myself in spaces where I am the only one who looks like me. In classrooms, in online discussions, and even in the media, the representation of women—especially Caribbean and Hispanic women—in computer science is scarce. This lack of representation sends an unspoken message: that this field is not meant for me. The tech industry has long been dominated by men, and while progress has been made, implicit biases and stereotypes still linger. I have read stories of women being underestimated, of their ideas being dismissed, and of their accomplishments being overshadowed. I would be lying if I said I hadn’t internalized some of these fears myself. However, the more I learn and grow in this field, the more determined I become to break those barriers. Yes, there are moments when the challenges seem overwhelming, when I feel the pressure to prove myself more than my peers. But with each small victory—each time I successfully fix a stubborn bug or finally grasp a difficult concept—I feel a surge of accomplishment and confidence. What once seemed like an insurmountable challenge has become an opportunity to pave the way for others like me. I am not just coding for myself; I am coding to show that women of color belong in tech. To future students facing the same doubts, my advice is this: don’t let fear or stereotypes dictate your path. Computer science, like any challenging field, can feel overwhelming at times, but persistence is key. You belong here, even if the world tries to tell you otherwise. Seek out mentors and communities that uplift and support you. Embrace the struggles as part of the learning process, and remind yourself why you started. Progress doesn’t always come easily, but every small breakthrough is a step toward mastering the craft. The road may not be easy, but for those who find joy in solving problems and creating through code, the journey is more than worth it.

Throughout my short life, there have been many times where I've had to overcome adversity. As a woman of color, adversity might as well be like second nature to me. Hearing the stories of so many great people, so many great women, who have had to overcome all sorts of adversity has been nothing short of inspiring to me. I strive to be like them; no, it's more like I need to be like them. When I was younger, I was a bright and happy child. Despite not having the best childhood, I was optimistic and motivated, just like any child should be at that age. But the familiar and academic pressure to be better than my peers slowly weakened me; two things I loved, my family and school, became huge obstacles in my growth. In 2018, I began to fall into a deep depression. I was only 9 years old. Evidently, it affected my academics in such a dark and twisted way because I started to care less and less about my education. If I barely cared about myself, why would I care about school? That's what I began to think anyways. I also got sick often due to my poor physical health, so I was commonly absent to school which affected my grades and sunk me into a deeper hole. Years passed by and I decided that enough was enough. I wanted to change and I wanted to feel happy once again, so my first step was to tell someone. At my yearly doctor's physical, I confessed to my doctor what I was feeling. I decided to exercise, spend more time with family, eat healthier, and go to church more often. Even more years have passed by and I am now 17 years old. Although every day I still must fight diligently to get out of bed and get back into it, the weeks are slowly getting better, and it has become easier to smile. I’ve accepted that the stress will never completely go away; therefore, as an active student, I’ve learned to work with it. My challenges opened my eyes to the value of life and because of that, I am able to appreciate the academic opportunities I’ve been given. I know now more about myself than I ever did back then. I know what I like, what I don't like, and what I absolutely despise. I'm a quiet introvert who loves to read and write. I love music and I do better with small groups of friends than with large ones. I know that I have my good traits and that I have my bad traits. Despite being so incredibly imperfect, overcoming problems and standing tall through my depression helped me realize that I am who I am and that I can only grow from where I currently stand. I will grow along with the adversities that come my way because I can only grow stronger from it.

Success is an interesting word. To many, it means reaching wealth. To others, it means finding love and getting married. However, the more I think about it, the more superficial and shallow success feels. It’s not that I’m uninterested in love or wealth—like anyone else, I want those things too. But success, for me, runs deeper than these conventional goals. It’s the feeling of satisfaction at the end of the day, of going to sleep with little to no regrets. It’s knowing that you’ve made a real impact in your community and the world, and that you’ve lived a good life—whatever that may look like. At the end of the day, this is the kind of success I strive for. Unfortunately, the road to that success remains long and difficult, no matter how much I push or how much my peers help. My path is filled with obstacles, many of which have been in place since the moment I was born. Adversity is the biggest enemy of success. For me, adversity is like a lifelong companion that refuses to leave, no matter how hard I try to move past it. I’d love to push it aside and be free of its weight, but sadly, I can’t. This is where the opportunity of this scholarship becomes crucial. It’s more than just financial aid—it’s a stepping stone, a lifeline that can help me navigate these obstacles. With it, I can pursue my education with greater focus and fewer distractions, allowing me to gain the skills and knowledge that will help me make the impact I envision--to reach a profound success. Whether it’s helping me afford textbooks, reduce the burden of student loans, or even give me the time to volunteer and help in community projects, this scholarship will ease the financial strain that too often gets in the way of my dreams and my life in general. As a Hispanic female hoping to major in the male-dominated field of computer science, I hope to take full advantage of the opportunities given to me, including this scholarship. While it is a little scary to major in this field as a woman, I am determined to reach success and to overcome adversity in whatever shape or form. Ultimately, this scholarship will provide me with the resources and support needed to stay on track toward my personal vision of success—one that’s not defined by wealth, but by the difference I can make in the lives of others and in mine.

Ever since I was a young child, my parents instilled in me the importance of family and friends, for they are the foundation of my community. Despite moving frequently during my elementary school years, I always found a sense of belonging—whether in predominantly white neighborhoods or more diverse ones. I will forever be grateful for the people who welcomed me and made me feel at home, no matter where I was and how timid I felt. As I reflect on the support and opportunities my community has given me, I feel a strong desire to give back; I feel immensely grateful. As a Hispanic female living through challenging times, particularly with the current deportation laws, I am more determined than ever to give back to my community while I still can. I plan to attend college and pursue a degree in computer science. Though it’s a field that remains predominantly male, I am not discouraged and I am not scared. My passion for technology and my love for my community drive me forward. I understand that computer science is a challenging and competitive field to major in and find a job in, but I am confident in my ability to succeed and adapt. I know that no matter where I land, I will have no regrets. My ultimate goal is to use the skills and resources I acquire to give back—first and foremost to my family, but also to the schools, church, and local library that provided me with so much comfort during my teenage years. In the end, it is not just about achieving personal success, but about creating opportunities for other kids who come from disadvantaged backgrounds I do and uplifting the community that shaped me so much. I am committed to turning the support I have received into something better, ensuring that the values of family, hard work, and generosity continue to live and thrive in the places I call home.

Throughout my childhood, I've shifted through many ambitions and career goals. I went from wanting to be a doctor, to a teacher, to a math professor, to a lawyer, and so on. It was only until recently that I've finally settled on one goal--a newfound passion of mine: computer science. It's interesting that up until recently, I hardly even knew what computer science was. However, I've always loved computers and I've always been what people call "tech-savvy". So, was it a surprise that I turned out to be quite good at coding? To my parents and the people who know me, it was not. As I've been introduced to coding and how to be a computer scientist, I've learned how difficult it can be. I won't lie and say that it hasn't scared me; I've especially been scared off by the numerous videos posted on social media by current and former computer science students who found the classes to be excruciating. However, despite the occasional doubts and the intimidating stories shared by others, I’ve come to realize that what initially looked like an impossible challenge has become a source of excitement and passion. Sure, there are moments when the complex coding concepts feel overwhelming as if I'll never understand them; but each breakthrough, no matter how small or miniscule, reassures me that I really do enjoy computer science. It’s in those moments of overcoming difficulty that I find my passion for computer science deepening and growing with each laborious bug I fix. I am drawn to the idea of using technology not just for personal gain or for money, but for something greater—using it to help others in small but meaningful ways. I realize that computer science is not just about lines of code; it’s about creating solutions, finding patterns, and finding new ways to better it. For instance, I have a lot of respect for IT Technicians who require understanding of basic computer systems, large amounts of patience, and passion to better their ability to help others. These are goals that resonate with my earlier interests in medicine, education, and law—areas where I can help others. In the future, I hope to combine my love for computer science with my other passions. While I once imagined myself as a doctor or a teacher, I now see how these goals can merge with technology. Like mentioned earlier, I want to help other people through cybersecurity and information technology. I’m excited about the potential of combining coding skills with creative problem-solving. I’m also interested in continuing to code and create my own projects in hopes of bettering today's technology. Ultimately, my goal is not just to be proficient and skillful in computer science but to be part of a generation that uses technology for good and positive change. I believe that with the skills I am building now and the skills I hope to build in college, I can take the best of both worlds—technology and my desire to help others—and use them to create solutions that truly matter.

Since childhood, the adults and grown ups around me have always gone around preaching the same lesson, that significant challenges are important for character development. Nevertheless, I find that hard to believe. While I personally agree that growth stems from trials, I also realized that some challenges bring more struggles than their worth which was true in my case. When I was younger, I was a bright and happy child. Despite not having the best childhood, I was optimistic and motivated, just like any child should be at that age. In fact, one could call me fortunate and blessed since that's what I was on the outside. But the familiar and academic pressure to be better than my peers slowly weakened me; two things I loved, my family and school, became huge obstacles in my growth. In 2018, my favorite uncle and one of my biggest sources of comfort passed away due to cancer in the esophagus. His passing opened my eyes and after that day, I found myself often thinking of death and yearning for it. I was 9 years old at the time. Evidently, it affected my academics in such a dark and twisted way because I started to care less and less about my education. If I barely cared about myself, why would I care about school? That's what I began to think anyways. I also got sick often due to my poor physical health, so I was commonly absent to school which affected my grades and sunk me into a deeper hole. Years passed by and I decided that enough was enough. I wanted to change and I wanted to feel happy once again, so my first step was to tell someone. At my yearly doctor's physical, I confessed to my doctor what I was feeling. She listened with empathy and diagnosed me with depression. My second step was to take care of myself. It took a while to get there but I did it. I decided to exercise, spend more time with family, eat healthier, and go to church more often. Even more years have passed by and I am now 16 years old. Although every day I still must fight diligently to get out of bed and get back into it, the weeks are slowly getting better, and it has become easier to smile. I’ve accepted that the stress will never completely go away; therefore, as an active student, I’ve learned to work with it. My challenges opened my eyes to the value of life and because of that, I am able to appreciate the academic opportunities I’ve been given which I’ve pledged to take full advantage of. I am stronger now because of my struggles and I am grateful for the life that has been given to me since that alone has made me grow as a person.