I am thinking of engineering as a career path as I want to discover more about the world and to apply my knowledge of STEM to solve problems others can't. As an engineer I want to work in fields essential to solving some of the greater problems found throughout our world, and gain more experience of what we can do as a society to make the world a better place. Even if I don't get to work on the world's greater global problems, I still hope to make an impact throughout my career through my expertise or skills I learned. Another reason I want to pursue engineering is because I want to create a more secure cyberspace through my skills. I’ve seen large breaches in security from several individuals either through phishing attempts or malware. I also have experience with breaches in my own cybersecurity. I once had my debit card details exposed to people abroad when I signed up for a program; I recuperated my lost money, but made sure that this wouldn’t happen again. Which is why through my engineering skills and knowledge of technology, I can take on the challenge to make a safer cyberspace by implementing solutions that fix common breaches in security and reinforce online systems to better protect against cyberattacks. By doing this I’ll make a safer place for people to communicate online and stop malicious individuals from negatively affecting the lives of those who they target in their cyberattacks. As for current experience in engineering, I have much hands-on experience regarding the exercise of these skills today. Firstly, I own a small side-business in which I repair laptops and other electronics, using my engineering skills in order to find solutions to issues I find within these repairs, such as using a process to first identify and breakdown the issue, before going through separate solutions algorithmically. I also have hands-on engineering experience through the projects I complete, creating mechanisms that require me to use the engineering solutions to break down the problems and find adequate solutions, such as making prop weapons with moving slots and mechanisms for a school play. As for hands-on engineering experience in groups, this is seen in my experience with FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) robotics, a co-op engineering program. As Vice President, I led a team of members through the process of constructing and coding a robot for a set of goals in the competition. During this program we had to think critically similarly to engineers, conceptualizing solutions to problems critical to the competition, and even reverse engineering other designs to better suit our design of the robot. In another co-op engineering program, I gained hands-on experience as an engineer in the Coding Club at my school, a club I founded alongside an instructor and became president in, using my leadership to understand different programming issues and create appropriate solutions to these problems following a similar engineering process. In both co-op engineering programs I led my team through the difficult engineering processes while working with several diverse individuals along the way. The last of my hands-on engineering experience comes from a project I completed regarding sustainability goals for the United Nations, where I made a water-filtration system that can be placed across communities allowing for the cleansing of unclean water. In this project I again had to enact my engineering skills to design and create from scratch a complex system that'll be helpful to others. Through these experiences in engineering, co-op and not, I have become a better engineer overall, ready for a career in the field.

I am passionate about an education in STEM as I want to study engineering to discover more about the world and to apply my knowledge of math, science, and technology to solve problems others can't. As an engineer I want to work in fields essential to solving some of the greater problems found throughout our world, and by doing this I will gain more experience of the inner workings of the world and what we can do as a society to make the world a better place. Even if I don't get to work on the world's greater global problems, I still hope to make an impact throughout my career through my expertise or skills I learned by solving a variety of complex problems. Another reason I want to study engineering is because of my interest in the field of engineering, the idea of using math, science, and technology and specifically technology to solve complex problems has always been very fascinating as these concepts are all individually intricate. This drives me to learn more about engineering and the engineering process. As being someone who applies the science and logic from STEM to his everyday life, such as when I use my knowledge of STEM to repair and make computers, I can attest to the power that STEM bestows upon me and those who are interested in it. Also my interest in STEM extends into my interest in technology and technological development. I own a small side-business in which I repair laptops and other electronics, using my engineering skills in order to find solutions to issues I find within these repairs, such as using a process to first identify and breakdown the issue, before going through separate solutions algorithmically. This process makes me want understand more about STEM and it's relation to technology in the hopes that I can better understand how the various machine processes in machines work together to make our computers and phones operate. Furthermore, I also want to study technology in STEM to one day have a career as a Computer Engineer in the field, working with others to, again, improve upon the world through both the production and innovation of burgeoning technologies. This scholarship will help greatly on my journey to becoming a future engineer as it will give me the money for college to accomplish my goals in the field of science and technology, and fulfilling me with the knowledge to do so via higher education. Please consider my message, and I hope to hear back from you soon.

I have once encountered a challenge in my life regarding my mental health, for a long time during that period of my life I had feelings of anxiety. Throughout this period, I felt my mistakes made lasting impressions on my character and that the few successes that I did have were a small relief from my anxious thoughts, as though my anxiety made me only more anxious about upholding my next success. Suffering from constant anxiety, I was not myself, I believed I was undeserving of my academic success or thought that my reputation might be ruined at any moment. These mental issues were crippling my academic and personal life, making me a more intense person in my day-to-day life, unable to take a joke or do my work with peaceful thoughts. I remember the times at home trying to do my homework or other projects and being unable to do so due to this anxiety, I would be engulfed by darkness, incapable of thinking or moving my wrist with the pencil in hand. I remember the moments during this period when I would be genuinely angry at a simple joke about me or other topics, defensively debating my way through the discussion before realizing that the other person was making a joke, I felt hurt, being around or talking to people was enraging. This defensive attitude is unusual as I am a more jovial and humorous person, with this personality change being caused by my anxiety. However, I overcame these obstacles with the aid of those around me. Being able to express my emotions to someone close to me has allowed me to investigate the reasoning behind my negative thoughts and gain support for my anxiety. The support I received was through the emotional assistance of my friends and family, in my time of need I was reminded they will be close by and at my moment's need. This happened when I started talking to my family about the thoughts I was having, breaking down while I spoke to them. This hinted to them of the seriousness of the situation, leading to the decision to help me. Feeling the warm embrace of my friends and family released me from anxiety, the wholly feeling was powerful. Through overcoming this obstacle, I grew as a person and gained experience in handling my mental issues. The most fundamental idea I learned from this experience was the importance of the people and family around you, these people shape who you are and help you throughout your life. It showed me how important it is to keep a good relationship with your family and people around you as although you are alone in this world, in many ways, you cannot live without those who exist amongst you. From a survival standpoint, I learned that it is of great difficulty to not live in the world without your friends and family, as they are a requirement to continue functioning on the Earth we stand on. It is also important to remember that family does not necessarily have to mean the people we are connected by blood to, family can be any group of people you associate with, find trust within, and hold dear. Therefore, I continue to embrace my friends and family, learn from them, connect to them, and be present with them, as without them I would not be where I am today.

If I were to create a dream job after high school, that would be in computer engineering. This job would feature me using my technical skills in computer hardware and software technology to design, build, and test components. Ideally I would be working in a position respecting my skills and abilities, with a salary that is conducive of living in today's economy. I also want a job that I am passionate about and forever learning in. Money may be an important to all people in society due to it's driving force to survival, however, I find that even with all the money in the world, fulfillment in what you're doing will always beat-out money, which is why if I were to have a dream job in computer engineering I want to constantly feel happy and fulfilled with my work. Another aspect of my dream would be working with several individuals across different areas of the world for the betterment of society digitally. My plan of doing this is to study computer engineering to discover more about the world and to apply my knowledge of STEM to solve problems others can't. Such as cybersecurity, taking on the challenge to make a safer cyberspace by implementing solutions that fix common breaches in security and reinforce online systems to better protect against cyberattacks. Furthermore, my dream job would include supporting my family. Family to me is an important aspect of my life as a Latino, which is why through my dream job I wish to be able to work a career that I love while also being able to spend time and give back to my family. The way in which I plan on achieving my dream job will be through higher education, and in order to receive higher education I need money. This scholarship is a step to accomplishing my dream job/career as I need money to gain higher education to learn how to be a computer engineer. As a person who has worked hard their entire life to reach this moment, I joined activities and clubs to create a list of commitment towards my passion, I studied to be an excellent student, and drafted countless essays to write with formality. Now I require assistance through this scholarship to get over the hurdle of paying for my higher education. Coming from a first generation and lower income family, we don't have the funds necessary to support my next step to my endeavor towards becoming a computer engineer. By receiving this scholarship not only am I being supported through this step of higher education, but also my future endeavors as a computer engineer as without higher education I wouldn't be able to achieve the goals of my dream job. Therefore, I am waiting to hear back from the GEAR UP and TRIO scholarship so that I am able to realize my future dream job goals.

As a Latino, my professional goals have always been to have a successful career in the subject I chose, constantly improving myself in that field not only to be more successful, but knowledgeable in the subject matter. Which is why I don't only want a success career, but a career that I am truly passionate in, I do understand that survival is a driving force for success, however, I want to know that the career I am going into will constantly be providing me with fulfillment and that the effort I put into that career will not be of waste. I also have professional goals in being an adept leader in the profession that I am in, having a team in which I am able to build and guide with succession. Another professional goal is to use my career to my advantage in helping people across the world. In whatever profession I may be in, I want to use my power to not only benefit myself, but others through my knowledge and or power in the roles that I am in. As for my academic goals, they are an extension of my professional goals, being used as leverage to progress my professional goals, which is why I want access to a higher education as it'll allow me to obtain a career to progress my professional goals. However, I don't only want to gain a higher education to progress my professional goals, but to explore academic subjects, connecting with different people, and of course learning. I place great value on learning as I believe that learning is essential to developing ideas and furthering your understanding of this ever-expanding world. As for that my professional and academic goals will be directed towards, this will be computer engineering for a variety of reasons. I want to study computer engineering to discover more about the world and to apply my knowledge of STEM to solve problems others can't. As an engineer I want to work in fields essential to solving some of the greater problems found throughout our world, and by doing this I will gain more experience of what we can do as a society to make the world a better place. I have been accomplishing this by giving back to my own community through my volunteering experience in FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) Robotics. I've worked with students interested in robotics and participating in robotics to teach them about how to build robots. I have also worked in volunteering for other programs related to STEM, such as conventions for computer science and STEM, where I taught people and children about coding through hands-on activities. I've also worked in my community and family to teach others the importance of cybersecurity and how a lack of cybersecurity (such as anonymity online, password protection, social media awareness). Not only did I participate in technology-related volunteering, I also helped my community in other events, such as participating as a principal aide and math tutor at my local elementary (Marian Anderson Elementary), being an emcee and event staff for middle school Esports contests, and aiding musicians in performances. This continues to inspire me to continue to do more to help others around me and continue to better myself as a human being. Even if I don't get to work on the world's greater global problems, I still hope to make an impact throughout my career through my expertise or skills I learned by solving a variety of complex problems, using science and technology all throughout the way to do this.

Hello, I am Santiago Rios. I was born and raised here in California in a Mexican household. My Latin background has influenced much of current day behavior and values, such as knowing to contribute back to the community I came from and being familiarized with the customs of Mexican culture. I also want to pursue my career in computer engineering. I have an innate passion for a lot of things in electronics and computation, computers weren't initially my interest, but after working with several different computers in hardware and software, while also learning more about the inner-workings of computers. Another thing that I have a passion for is philosophy and compassion for other people, through my studies in philosophy I have learned a lot about truths of life and social ideas about the world. Through this understanding of life I wish to take on the skills and abilities I gain throughout my life to help others in need. In my volunteering experience in FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) Robotics, I've worked with students interested in robotics and participating in robotics to teach them about how to build robots in ways of the FTC program. I have also worked in volunteering for other programs related to STEM, such as conventions for computer science and STEAM (STEM with art), where I taught people and children about coding through hands-on activities. I've also worked in my community and family to teach others the importance of cybersecurity and how a lack of cybersecurity (such as anonymity online, password protection, social media awareness) can lead to online bullying as without basic cybersecurity measures you leave yourself vulnerable. Therefore, I teach people in my community about what you can do to increase cybersecurity online to confront cyber bullies online through talking to the necessary authority, taking preventative measures, blocking communication, and refusing blackmail requests or scams. I do have experience in cyberbullying as I had a niece who was being bullied online from a group of people who used methods of exposing her personal information and using it against her to further the pressure they had placed on her, taking away from that experience the importance of educating others on cyberbullying and cybersecurity. As for my financial aid situation in regards to higher education I require the most amount of money I can get from the aid as I don't have much money to spare on college as we are a first generation college family. My family is based on a one-parent income, my father works as a network administrator under his credentials, whereas, my mother is unemployed. She has had a difficult time looking for a job. We reside in Compton, California, where we rent a home with all my family. Some financial challenges have come from several medical expenses, as I have seasonal allergies that cause me to become very ill every year and my mother has TMJ and high blood pressure. We've also had financial challenges in paying off debts, such as student loans, car payments, and credit card payments.

Hello, I am Santiago Rios. I was born and raised here in California in a Mexican household. My Latin background has influenced much of current day behavior and values, such as knowing to contribute back to the community I came from and being familiarized with the customs of Mexican culture. Through these values I understood the importance of hard work and became more accustomed to schooling, where I started to align my interests with careers and college. College for me was seen as an important concept by my family, due to love and admiration for both. I want them to be proud of me and continue to have them and love them unconditionally, which is one of the reasons I want to attend college. However, I also want to go to college to pursue my career in computer engineering. I have an innate passion for a lot of things in electronics and computation. Computers weren't initially my interest, but after working with several different computers in hardware and software, I've learned more about the inner-workings of computers and have grown a great deal of experience and interest in the subject. Another thing that I have a passion for is philosophy and compassion for other people. Through my studies in philosophy, I have learned a lot about truths of life and social ideas about the world. Through this understanding of life I wish to take on the skills and abilities I gain throughout my life to help others in need by studying engineering to discover more about the world and to apply my knowledge of math, science, and technology to solve problems others can't. As an engineer I want to work in fields essential to solving some of the greater problems found throughout our world, and by doing this I will gain more experience of the inner workings of the world and what we can do as a society to make the world a better place. One of the ways I plan on making the world a better place through engineering is by securing cyberspace. There has been much difficulty in the way governments, civilians, and other groups handle their cybersecurity and I can make a great impact on this problem. Through my experience throughout cyberspace I’ve seen large breaches in security from several individuals either that be through phishing attempts or malware. I also have experience with breaches in my own cybersecurity. I once had my debit card details exposed to people abroad when I signed up for a program; I recuperated my lost money, but made sure that this wouldn’t happen again. Which is why through my engineering skills and knowledge of technology I can take on the challenge to make a safer cyberspace by implementing solutions that fix common breaches in security and reinforce online systems to better protect against cyberattacks. By doing this I’ll make a safer place for people to communicate online and stop malicious individuals from negatively affecting the lives of those who they target in their cyberattacks. Through my studies as an engineer, I can learn how to help others with cybersecurity problems and much more on the engineering process, positively affecting those around the world by taking on the engineering challenge of making a better cyberspace.

Hello, my name is Santiago Rios, I plan on studying architecture in higher education, I chose to be an architect as it has been a long childhood passion of mine to join architecture. I discovered what it was per the suggestion of my parents. I would always draw buildings and be generally interested in cityscape/design in cities, therefore, I would like to contribute to my community or others by creating masterful structures. I have started studying for this career path and experiencing parts of it, hoping to see myself fulfilling this role one day. Through this role as an architect, I also wish to create a firm to create structures of my own free will and provide my services to more people. I have planned an entrepreneurial career because I want to expand upon my career and not be limited by my position in a company, I feel as if an entrepreneurial career will give me the ability to be who I want to be. Another reason why I've planned for this is because I also want to start a non-profit with my services to help out other areas in reconstruction/redesign. I will be successful in my business adventures because not only am I motivated to succeed in this adventure, but I truly believe in my abilities to build a company and manage it. Motivation and perseverance are essential in an entrepreneurial career as you can't continue to innovate and battle against failure without these core features, I personally never backed down from an issue and constantly changed the way I do things to better myself in whatever it may be. This is the same reason why many business adventures don't succeed as many owners don't persist or are as motivated to continue with their business, and like everything in life you won't find instant success; usually needing to be capable of learning from your mistakes. In general, a successful life for me is a life of fulfillment and passion, an entrepreneurial career will be able to do both of these things as they keep me prioritized on a goal whilst also helping me to not be constrained in a single position, which in my mind is what a successful life is. However, a successful life to me is also financial security with financial security I have much more freedom to complete the tasks I want to do and be under less stress than I would with fluctuating financials. Hopefully, you can better understand who I am as a person and know my reasons for being an entrepreneur.