Science and technology have fascinated me for as long as I can remember. As a kid growing up, my parents, who immigrated from Kenya, always emphasized academics and learning. Naturally, I gravitated towards math and science and later towards technology, which were areas that piqued my interest. That interest was further developed in middle school when I was exposed to more classes that allowed me to create. My middle school library offered maker space two times a week after school, and I was there almost every day. In the maker space, I got my first experience with a 3D printer, and that was impactful because I got to print things we designed in Tinkercad, which gave me my first experience using a modeling program to create a project. Along with that, NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers)  would have workshops in our library on Wednesdays after school, and my principal recommended that I go to one. Those workshops were filled with basic labs, experiments, and projects. My favorite part about the NSBE meetings was talking to the engineers in the group and asking them questions about their workload, college life, and the type of classes they were taking to earn their degrees. In high school, I became increasingly involved in extracurriculars to branch out and figure out what I wanted to do after graduating. I started playing football in seventh grade and loved the sport so much that I became a three-year varsity starter and team captain in high school. Football taught me the importance of overcoming adversity and working even when you want to quit. It also gave me my first experience of juggling a demanding schedule and relying on competent time management skills to maintain my grades and continue working toward my goals in the classroom. I also competed in the classroom through UIL academics. I did UIL all through middle school and decided to continue when I became a high schooler. As a sophomore, I competed in UIL Academic Octathlon and won and placed in science, art, and social science. As a junior, I competed in UIL Accounting, and our team made it to the region that year. And as a senior, we won third as a team at the state meet. However, after enrolling in AP Physics Electricity and Magnetism, I seemed to suddenly remember what motivated me to learn in school. Not looking at boring financial statements but learning about how the world works. Learning about magnets and electricity, and their complexities, made me appreciate the forces that we take for granted every day and the different ways we use those forces in life-saving technologies like MRI's for example. This inspired me to pursue a degree in electrical engineering. My journey through science, sports, and work has shaped my dedication to learning, perseverance, and teamwork, qualities I’m eager to carry into college and beyond.