I am a kaleidoscope. As you glimpse inside, twisting the wheel to uncover my passions, the vivid hues of my ventures dance around. As I shakily strolled into an unknown domain in the eighth grade, however, all that could be seen were mirrors with nothing to reflect. Full of indecisiveness, I attempted to seize every color, producing original music with the conservatory, devising yearbook pages in Digital Media Arts, and combating court cases in the O'Keffee Pre-Law Program. Over time, the empty barrel became flooded with experiences that seemed like disjointed shapes. It took me years to make peace with my passions. Embracing the joy of creation, I began composing original music. Song after original song, my passion grew, eventually appearing on numerous streaming platforms including Apple Music, YouTube, and Spotify. This summer, after working with Stephen Schwartz, I performed my original song "I've Been" for an upcoming documentary by Kenny Ortega, the director of High School Musical. Singing and songwriting gave the piano meaning at eight, and now at seventeen, it centers me and allows me to express myself. While life can be overwhelming as I juggle academics, spearheading multiple clubs, internships, and volunteering, I'm always grounded when turning my emotions into lyrics. Those keys, however, are not the only place I find meaning. As I designed on Autodesk Inventor during engineering class, I saw the similarities between notes and math. Truss calculations hold the symmetry of melodies; lyrics hold the creativity of 3D printing and pitching and defending my designs require the confidence I've learned to exude on stage. The ability to construct original ideas goes hand-in-hand with mechanical engineering, specifically prosthetics. All the unique patterns of my kaleidoscope are interwoven in engineering. While my kaleidoscope might have seemed disconnected, my passion for problem-solving proved to be the center of the turning barrel, solidified through my years of experience in the DiMino Engineering Program, robotics, as President of the National Science Honor Society, founder of the Women in STEM Club, a medical internship, and as a DiMino Engineering Scholarship recipient. Engineering meshed the colors that once stood separated. From laborious truss calculations to creating an original game with over fifty 3D printed pieces, engineering fused the various enjoyable aspects of my diverse activities into one. As I step into the future, I look forward to adding new colors and patterns to the barrel. Through my experience, I've realized that prosthetics encompass my passion for creation and my curiosity to solve academically driven tribulations. By allowing me to continue designing and stimulating efficiency, prosthetics will inspire my ambition to create more efficient and functional designs. With the opportunity to participate in active learning through engineering-specific clubs and actively researching teachers, I will grasp every opportunity to make my kaleidoscope spin with experience. I am ready to step into my future and create real change with the various colors and patterns I strive to collect.

A generational vexation. The antique object had been tormenting my family for three eras possessing my Abuela into believing its existence was advantageous. At eight years old, I could see beyond its rusty ancient facade straight into its genuine ambition: torture. For sixty minutes every day, my Abuela forced me to rehearse on the dated piano's off-tune keys as one of her fifth cousins raved about its miracles on your cognitive function. While neither of us knew what the word cognitive meant, she was persuaded it would make me an intelligent child closer to becoming a doctor. No was not an option. My tiny legs were incapable of outrunning her "chancleta," which usually was the spatula she held in her hand. However, even at eight, I never was good at bearing defeat. Although the "chancleta" got me on most endeavors, sometimes even flung at me from across the room, I never gave up. Not then, not now. When I had to code a website for a National History Day project in two weeks, I remained tenacious and savored the victory of advancing to the state competition. Whether it's evading a chancelta or fighting to complete a project determination to overcome obstacles is an integral aspect of my life. It took me twelve years to discover my true adversary. Pardoning the piano of its previous crimes, I realized that my issue was not with the instrument but the compositions that forced my fingers to scurry across the keys. In an effort to combat my colossal competitor, I joined forces with the instrument and started to create. The piano soon became home. The broken keys became the foundation for my original music. Song after song, my passion grew, shared on numerous streaming platforms, including Apple Music, YouTube, and Spotify. This summer, after working with Stephen Schwartz, I performed my original song "I've Been" for an upcoming documentary by Kenny Ortega, the director of High School Musical. Singing and songwriting made piano more enjoyable at eight, and now at seventeen, it centers me. While life can be overwhelming as I juggle academics, spearheading multiple clubs, internships, and volunteering, I always am grounded by turning my emotions into lyrics. My former adversary helped me discover the comfort in creativity. Being able to manipulate the keys into harmony gave me purpose. However, the keys are not the only place I find consolation. As I designed on Autodesk Inventor during engineering, I saw many similarities between notes and math. Truss calculations hold the symmetry of melodies; lyrics hold the creativity of 3D printing, and pitching and defending my designs require the confidence I exude on stage. The ability to construct original ideas goes hand in hand with mechanical engineering, specifically prosthetics. The root of engineering and songwriting is the ability to think of unique concepts to fill a purpose. As a prosthetist, my affinity for designing original concepts will be interwoven with my knack for science and math. When conceiving artificial limbs, I will channel eight-year-old me's determination and creativity. Like music, each prosthetic is unique, allowing me to maneuver challenges like I did with the rusty piano. The piano no longer sits in my grandmother's house but in my own. I have made peace with my former enemy, and the forceful sixty minutes I fought so formidably against. While the piano has new keys, the memories and values the instrument gave me will last a lifetime. Whether I'm writing a song or working on a prosthetic, I will face life fearlessly, knowing nothing is scarier than Mama chasing me around the kitchen with a "chancleta."

I am a kaleidoscope. As you glimpse inside, twisting the wheel to uncover my passions, the vivid hues of my ventures dance around. As I shakily strolled into an unknown domain in the eighth grade, however, all that could be seen were mirrors with nothing to reflect. Full of indecisiveness, I attempted to seize every color, producing original music with the conservatory, devising yearbook pages in Digital Media Arts, and cheering with the sports team. Over time, the empty barrel became flooded with experiences that seemed like disjointed shapes. Glimpsing deeper into each color, however, it became apparent that they were united. The creativity of songwriting is also required for designing on Autodesk Inventor. The capability to advocate in law is also essential to pitching my designs. The imagination to create yearbook pages is also necessary to sketch original innovations. All the unique patterns of my kaleidoscope are interwoven in engineering. While my kaleidoscope might have seemed disconnected, my passion for problem-solving proved to be the center of the turning barrel, solidified through my years of experience in the DiMino Engineering Program, robotics, as President of the National Science Honor Society, founder of the Women in STEM Club, a medical internship, and as a DiMino Engineering Scholarship recipient. Engineering meshed the colors that once stood separated. From laborious truss calculations to creating an original game with over fifty 3D printed pieces, engineering fused the various enjoyable aspects of my diverse activities into one. As I work on my senior year engineering research project to facilitate coral reef growth, my different experiences have proved beneficial. My years of performing have given me the confidence to advocate and receive project funding from our school's president, robotics provided me with the knowledge to create an innovative design, and engineering classes equipped me with the ability to print 3D pieces. However, most importantly cheering provided me with the ability to push back against obstacles. Through physical and emotional barriers I learned to time manage and chase my goals never backing down in the face of obstacles. I will always be a kaleidoscope, but the various activities that turn around my core of engineering are what provide me with the foundation for success. As I step into the future, I look forward to adding new colors and patterns to the barrel. Through my experience, I’ve realized that prosthetics encompass my passion for creation and my curiosity to solve academically driven tribulations. By allowing me to continue designing and stimulating efficiency, prosthetics will inspire my ambition to create more efficient and functional designs. As an aspiring prosthetist, the Vanderbilt School of Engineering will allow me to participate in innovative technology development in classes and research. With the opportunity to participate in active learning through engineering-specific clubs and actively researching teachers, I will grasp every opportunity to make my kaleidoscope spin with experience. I am ready to step into my future and create real change with the various colors and patterns I strive to collect.

I am a kaleidoscope. As you glimpse inside, twisting the wheel to uncover my passions, the vivid hues of my ventures dance around. As I shakily strolled into an unknown domain in the eighth grade, however, all that could be seen were mirrors with nothing to reflect. Full of indecisiveness, I attempted to seize every color, producing original music with the conservatory, devising yearbook pages in Digital Media Arts, and combating court cases in the O'Keffee Pre-Law Program. Over time, the empty barrel became flooded with experiences that seemed like disjointed shapes. Glimpsing deeper into each color, however, it became apparent that they were united. The creativity of songwriting is also required for designing on Autodesk Inventor. The capability to advocate in law is also essential to pitching my designs. The imagination to create yearbook pages is also necessary to sketch original innovations. All the unique patterns of my kaleidoscope are interwoven in engineering. While my kaleidoscope might have seemed disconnected, my passion for problem-solving proved to be the center of the turning barrel, solidified through my years of experience in the DiMino Engineering Program, robotics, as President of the National Science Honor Society, founder of the Women in STEM Club, a medical internship, and as a DiMino Engineering Scholarship recipient. Engineering meshed the colors that once stood separated. From laborious truss calculations to creating an original game with over fifty 3D printed pieces, engineering fused the various enjoyable aspects of my diverse activities into one. As I work on my senior year engineering research project to facilitate coral reef growth, my different experiences have proved beneficial. My years of performing have given me the confidence to advocate and receive project funding from our school's president, robotics provided me with the knowledge to create an innovative design, and engineering classes equipped me with the ability to print 3D pieces. I will always be a kaleidoscope, but the various activities that turn around my core of engineering are what provide me with the foundation for success. As I step into the future, I look forward to adding new colors and patterns to the barrel. Through my experience, I’ve realized that prosthetics encompass my passion for creation and my curiosity to solve academically driven tribulations. By allowing me to continue designing and stimulating efficiency, prosthetics will inspire my ambition to create more efficient and functional designs. As an aspiring prosthetist, the Vanderbilt School of Engineering will allow me to participate in innovative technology development in classes and research. With the opportunity to participate in active learning through engineering-specific clubs and actively researching teachers, I will grasp every opportunity to make my kaleidoscope spin with experience. I am ready to step into my future and create real change with the various colors and patterns I strive to collect.

Silent for a week. Fighting against the unjust treatment I received in my family, I decided the best option presented to me was not to say a word. Maybe their reasoning was justified, as my family simply cannot care for a pig, but I was determined to have the cute, pink, and tiny animal as my new pet. My noble protest against my family was a failure; however, after intense negotiations, we decided the best option was to foster cats and dogs to see if I could handle the commitment. Their decision proved successful as I gained one thousand community service hours and saved over fifty animals later. There is something so beautiful about saving an animal's life. I foster animals about to be killed in pounds and see them flourish in a safe environment. Doing this has taught me much about myself and my community. For one, these animals have shown me how to be responsible as caring for newborn puppies and kittens is exceptionally challenging. Since the 8th grade, I have taken on that role and learned how to time manage and be fully committed to what I sign up to do. It has also taught me how significant giving back is. Five thousand five hundred animals are killed daily, and by fostering, I get to stop animals from becoming part of that number. Our community is essential, and by saving these animals, I get to be a part of a positive change that will continue to change lives. As I am involved in A Second Chance Puppies and Kittens Shelters program, I also volunteer at events. By doing this, I help get animals adopted and inspire others to foster so more animals are saved. Community is what keeps the world going. Working together for a positive goal is what community service means to me, and with all of the negativity in the world, it is integral for life. Animals allow people to unite and bond despite differences allowing the world to come closer together. If people are divided, no change can be made; however, if a community is linked, the world can move forward for the better. Fostering allowed me to give back in a way that I love, but everybody has something they can do. My mom made masks during covid. My sister teaches dance classes. I foster. Our community defines who we are as a society, and community service allows us to make that definition something everybody loves. While my pet pig never made it into my life, something more important did. Fostering taught me life lessons and why service is essential, allowing me to see the world in a different light. Service defines society, and I'm grateful that every puppy and kitten that came into my life allowed me to see that. A Second Chance Puppies and Kittens Shelter has given me the ability to give back to my community in a way that I love. I am forever grateful for what community service has given me.

My sister and I raced as fast as our legs would take us, desperate for that luxury called air conditioning that would rescue us from the blistering Florida heat. With every step I took, my mother's figure in the car grew more precise, and relief grew closer. However, once we reached the car, yanking the doors open to fling our bodies into the cold air, time suddenly stopped. We stood still in shock, gazing in awe at what awaited us on the car seat: the iconic 1989 Taylor Swift album that we had obsessed over ever since we first discovered its release. For months, that CD was the only thing that played on our drives to school, dance, gymnastics, road trips, or any other time our mom would let us be consumed by the music of our idol. That was until I discovered Adele, whose somber, dramatic music made me feel like I was walking in slow motion through a movie. I never left my allegiance to Adele, until I discovered Shawn Mendes, Charlie Puth, Olivia Rodrigo, and all the other musicians who've influenced me. What all these artists have in common is that they activated the artist in me. While Taylor Swift was the first to trigger my love for music; she's certainly not the sole foundation on which I've based my inspiration for songwriting. When I began writing music at twelve, I realized that I wasn't Taylor, Adele, or any other artist. I discovered that to be a true musician, I needed to draw inspiration from within, so that's what I did. The lyrics I wrote began to slowly shape my identity. From heartbreak to anger and so many other emotions, I learned that my own feelings turned into original music served as my best inspiration to continue creating. While the songs I've listened to throughout my life have provided a roadmap, the actual destination has always been to harness my creativity and write music that is uniquely my own. Every song I write inspires me to create something better, constantly pushing my competitive side of myself to create more authentic and compelling music. So, while Taylor Swift, Adele, and many others have been the building blocks, ultimately, I draw inspiration from my own creativity to lay the foundation of who I am as an artist and an individual. Now, I look forward to discovering all the ways in which I'll have the opportunity to apply my creative strengths and artistic foundation to forward my academic goals as a mechanical engineering major. Just as I write original songs, I hope to develop original and innovative ideas to advance my intended field of prosthetic engineering. I'm confident that my experience as an artist will build the bridge which leads to ingenuity when designing and engineering prosthetics, which, in turn, will serve to enhance the quality of life of those who've suffered limb loss and are mobility impaired. I can't imagine anything more fulfilling.

A generational vexation. The antique object had been tormenting my family for three eras possessing my Abuela into believing its existence was advantageous. At eight years old, I could see beyond its rusty ancient facade straight into its genuine ambition: torture. For sixty minutes every day, my Abuela forced me to rehearse on the dated piano's off-tune keys as one of her fifth cousins raved about its miracles on your cognitive function. While neither of us knew what the word cognitive meant, she was persuaded it would make me an intelligent child closer to becoming a doctor. No was not an option. My tiny legs were incapable of outrunning her "chancleta," which usually was the spatula she held in her hand. However, even at eight, I never was good at bearing defeat. Although the "chancleta" got me on most endeavors, sometimes even flung at me from across the room, I never gave up. Not then, not now. When I had to code a website for a National History Day project in two weeks, I remained tenacious and savored the victory of advancing to the state competition. Whether it's evading a chancelta or fighting to complete a project determination to overcome obstacles is an integral aspect of my life. It took me twelve years to discover my true adversary. Pardoning the piano of its previous crimes, I realized that my issue was not with the instrument but the compositions that forced my fingers to scurry across the keys. In an effort to combat my colossal competitor, I joined forces with the instrument and started to create. The piano soon became home. The broken keys became the foundation for my original music. Song after song, my passion grew, shared on numerous streaming platforms, including Apple Music, YouTube, and Spotify. This summer, after working with Stephen Schwartz, I performed my original song "I've Been" for an upcoming documentary by Kenny Ortega, the director of High School Musical. Singing and songwriting made piano more enjoyable at eight, and now at seventeen, it centers me. While life can be overwhelming as I juggle academics, spearheading multiple clubs, internships, and volunteering, I always am grounded by turning my emotions into lyrics. My former adversary helped me discover the comfort in creativity. Being able to manipulate the keys into harmony gave me purpose. However, the keys are not the only place I find consolation. As I designed on Autodesk Inventor during engineering, I saw many similarities between notes and math. Truss calculations hold the symmetry of melodies; lyrics hold the creativity of 3D printing, and pitching and defending my designs require the confidence I exude on stage. The ability to construct original ideas goes hand in hand with mechanical engineering, specifically prosthetics. The root of engineering and songwriting is the ability to think of unique concepts to fill a purpose. As a prosthetist, my affinity for designing original concepts will be interwoven with my knack for science and math. When conceiving artificial limbs, I will channel eight-year-old me's determination and creativity. Like music, each prosthetic is unique, allowing me to maneuver challenges like I did with the rusty piano. The piano no longer sits in my grandmother's house but in my own. I have made peace with my former enemy, and the forceful sixty minutes I fought so formidably against. While the piano has new keys, the memories and values the instrument gave me will last a lifetime. Whether I'm writing a song or working on a prosthetic, I will face life fearlessly, knowing nothing is scarier than Mama chasing me around the kitchen with a "chancleta."

I raced as fast as my legs would take me, desperate for that luxury called air conditioning that would rescue me from the blistering Florida heat. With every step I took, relief grew closer. But when we yanked the doors open we stood still in shock, gazing at what awaited us on the seat: the iconic 1989 Taylor Swift album. For months, that CD was the only thing that played on our drives to school, or any other time our mom would let us be consumed by the music of our idol. That was until I discovered Adele, whose dramatic music made me feel like I was walking through a movie. I never left my allegiance to Adele, until I discovered Shawn Mendes, Charlie Puth, and all the other musicians who’ve influenced me. What these artists have in common is that they activated the artist in me. While Taylor Swift triggered my love for music, she’s not the sole foundation on which I’ve based my inspiration for songwriting. When I began writing at twelve, I realized that I wasn't Taylor, or any other artist. I discovered that to be a true musician, I needed to draw inspiration from within, so that's what I did. From heartbreak to so many emotions, I learned that my own feelings turned into music served as my best inspiration. While the songs I’ve listened to have provided a roadmap, the actual destination has been to harness my creativity and write music that is uniquely me. Every song I write inspires me to create more pushing the competitive side of me to create more compelling music. So, while Taylor Swift and many others have been the building blocks, ultimately, I draw inspiration from myself to lay the foundation of who I am as an artist.

A generational vexation. The object had been tormenting my family for three eras possessing my Abuela into believing its existence was advantageous. At eight, I saw beyond its facade straight into its genuine ambition: torture. Daily for sixty minutes, my Abuela forced me to rehearse on the piano's off-tune keys as one of her fifth cousins raved about its miracles on your cognitive function. While neither of us knew what the word cognitive meant, she was persuaded it would make me an intelligent child, making no, not a prospect. My tiny legs were incapable of outrunning her "chancleta," which usually was the spatula she held in her hand. However, even at eight, I didn't accept defeat. Although the "chancleta" got me on most endeavors, sometimes even flung at me, I never gave up. Not then, not now. When I saw the absence of women's involvement in STEM fields, I implemented the Women in STEM Club at my school, increasing women's participation. Whether it's evading a chancelta or fighting for equality, determination to overcome obstacles is an integral aspect of my life that will fuel my future influence. It took twelve years to discover my true adversary. Pardoning the piano, I realized the issue was the compositions I was forced to play. So I joined forces with the instrument to combat my competitor and started to create. The piano soon became home. The broken keys became the foundation for my original music. As my passion grew, I shared my music on numerous streaming platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify. This summer, after working with Stephen Schwartz, I performed my song "I've Been" for a documentary by Kenny Ortega, the director of High School Musical. Songwriting made piano enjoyable at eight, and now at seventeen, it centers me. While life is overwhelming as I juggle AP classes, being The President of the Science National Honor Society, and gaining over a thousand hours volunteering, I always am grounded by turning my emotions into lyrics. While manipulating the keys gave me purpose, piano is not the only place I find consolation. As I designed on Autodesk Inventor during engineering, I saw many similarities between notes and math. Truss calculations hold the symmetry of melodies; lyrics hold the creativity of 3D printing, and defending my designs requires the confidence I exude on stage—the ability to construct original ideas shares similarities with mechanical engineering, specifically prosthetics. The root of engineering and songwriting is the ability to think of unique concepts to fill a purpose. As a prosthetist, my affinity for designing original concepts will be interwoven with my knack for science and math. My passion for this was solidified through my PLTW certification, a medical internship, the DiMino Engineering Program, robotics, and my senior year coral reef research project. When conceiving artificial limbs, I will channel eight-year-old me's determination and creativity. The piano no longer sits in my grandmother's house but in my own. I made peace with my former enemy, and the sixty minutes I fought so formidably against. While it has new keys, the values it gave me will last a lifetime. In the future I will change lives giving people a second chance and change my family giving back to those who gave to me. So Whether i'm writing a song or working on a prosthetic, I will face life fearlessly, knowing nothing is scarier than Mama chasing me around the kitchen with a "chancleta."

Standing against the single most unjust decision I had ever seen in my entire life, I knew that I had to speak up. At eight years of age, I just couldn't accept that my mom refused to get me a pig for my birthday. As any rational person would, I followed the only viable option I had at the time: Protesting in silence for a week. While some may describe this as stubborn, I think it is an excellent illustration of the passion I feel to speak up when I feel something is wrong. I never got my pig (unfortunately), but I learned the lesson of advocating for my beliefs. Recently, I felt the same fire 8-year-old me did. On my first day of 10th grade, I walked into my engineering class already nervous and realized I was the only girl in the class. While our teacher (who also happened to be the football coach) found it amusing, I felt out of place immediately. At that moment, I realized that feeling was the reason so many girls would not take the class themselves. The determined mindset I exhibited early in life returned and I set out to create change. After multiple rejections from faculty and a lack of female STEM sponsorship, I finally managed to launch the Women in STEM Club and recruit various girls into the STEM tracks at my school. Making a space where all people feel comfortable collaborating and sharing ideas is essential. A supportive environment allowed club members to speak out and become comfortable in settings they previously avoided. As the club expands, so will the participation of women in STEM. This is one of the many obstacles I have faced as I enter a field with a 13% women demographic. Despite the challenges I will meet, I am willing to overcome them as I did by founding my club to follow my passion. After participating in Medical Internships, Robotics, and The DiMino Engineering Program, I realized my calling was Biomedical Engineering. More specifically, after designing on Autodesk Inventor, I realized I wanted to work on prosthetics. By creating artificial limbs, I can help the lives of others and combine my love for academics and creativity into a career. While prosthetics have made advances, it is still a growing field, with refinements yet to be made in their ability to look and function like limbs. By activating the innovative and academic parts in me, I can face a new problem every day, making the career even more enticing. While I am aware that I will feel the same way I did in 10th grade, I am also mindful that I can overcome that feeling once again. While I may never get my pig, I will always ensure I follow my passion despite the obstacles I may face.

Standing against the single most unjust decision I had ever seen in my entire life, I knew that I had to speak up. At eight years of age, I just couldn't accept that my mom refused to get me a pig for my birthday. As any rational person would, I followed the only viable option I had at the time: Protesting in silence for a week. While some may describe this as stubborn, I think it is an excellent illustration of the passion I feel to speak up when I feel something is wrong. I never got my pig (unfortunately), but I learned the lesson of advocating for my beliefs. Recently, I felt the same fire 8-year-old me did. On my first day of 10th grade, I walked into my engineering class already nervous and realized I was the only girl in the class. While our teacher (who also happened to be the football coach) found it amusing, I felt out of place immediately. At that moment, I realized that feeling was the reason so many girls would not take the class themselves. The determined mindset I exhibited early in life returned and I set out to create change. After multiple rejections from faculty and a lack of female STEM sponsorship, I finally managed to launch the Women in STEM Club and recruit various girls into the STEM tracks at my school. Making a space where all people feel comfortable collaborating and sharing ideas is essential. A supportive environment allowed club members to speak out and become comfortable in settings they previously avoided. As the club expands, so will the participation of women in STEM. This is one of the many obstacles I have faced as I enter a field with a 13% women demographic. Despite the challenges I will meet, I am willing to overcome them as I did by founding my club to follow my passion. After participating in Medical Internships, Robotics, and The DiMino Engineering Program, I realized my calling was Biomedical Engineering. More specifically, after designing on Autodesk Inventor, I realized I wanted to work on prosthetics. By creating artificial limbs, I can help the lives of others and combine my love for academics and creativity into a career. While prosthetics have made advances, it is still a growing field, with refinements yet to be made in their ability to look and function like limbs. By activating the innovative and academic parts in me, I can face a new problem every day, making the career even more enticing. While I am aware that I will feel the same way I did in 10th grade, I am also mindful that I can overcome that feeling once again. While I may never get my pig, I will always ensure I follow my passion despite the obstacles I may face.

Standing against the single most unjust decision I had ever seen in my entire life, I knew that I had to speak up. At eight years of age, I just couldn't accept that my mom refused to get me a pig for my birthday. As any rational person would, I followed the only viable option I had at the time: Protesting in silence for a week. While some may describe this as stubborn, I think it is an excellent illustration of the passion I feel to speak up when I feel something is wrong. I never got my pig (unfortunately), but I learned the lesson of advocating for my beliefs. Recently, I felt the same fire 8-year-old me did. On my first day of 10th grade, I walked into my engineering class already nervous and realized I was the only girl in the class. While our teacher (who also happened to be the football coach) found it amusing, I felt out of place immediately. At that moment, I realized that feeling was the reason so many girls would not take the class themselves. The determined mindset I exhibited early in life returned and I set out to create change. After multiple rejections from faculty and a lack of female STEM sponsorship, I finally managed to launch the Women in STEM Club and recruit various girls into the STEM tracks at my school. Making a space where all people feel comfortable collaborating and sharing ideas is essential. A supportive environment allowed club members to speak out and become comfortable in settings they previously avoided. As the club expands, so will the participation of women in STEM. This is one of the many obstacles I have faced as I enter a field with a 13% women demographic. Despite the challenges I will meet, I am willing to overcome them as I did by founding my club to follow my passion. After participating in Medical Internships, Robotics, and The DiMino Engineering Program, I realized my calling was Biomedical Engineering. More specifically, after designing on Autodesk Inventor, I realized I wanted to work on prosthetics. By creating artificial limbs, I can help the lives of others and combine my love for academics and creativity into a career. While prosthetics have made advances, it is still a growing field, with refinements yet to be made in their ability to look and function like limbs. By activating the innovative and academic parts in me, I can face a new problem every day, making the career even more enticing. I am aware that I will feel the same way I did in 10th grade, I am also mindful that I can overcome that feeling once again. While I may never get my pig, I will always ensure I follow my passion despite the obstacles I may face.

Silent for a week. Fighting against the unjust treatment I received in my family, I decided the best option presented to me was not to say a word. Maybe their reasoning was justified, as my family simply cannot care for a pig, but I was determined to have the cute, pink, and tiny animal as my new pet. My noble protest against my family was a failure; however, after intense negotiations, we decided the best option was to foster cats and dogs to see if I could handle the commitment. Their decision proved successful as I have gained one thousand community service hours and saved over fifty animals later. There is something so beautiful about saving an animal's life. I foster animals about to be killed in pounds and see them flourish in a safe environment. Doing this has taught me much about myself and my community. For one, these animals have shown me how to be responsible as caring for newborn puppies and kittens is exceptionally challenging. Since the 8th grade, I have taken on that role and learned how to time manage and be fully committed to what I sign up to do. It has also taught me how significant giving back is. Five thousand five hundred animals are killed daily, and by fostering, I get to stop animals from becoming part of that number. Our community is essential, and by saving these animals, I get to be a part of a positive change that will continue to change lives. As I am involved in A Second Chance Puppies and Kittens Shelters program, I also volunteer at events. By doing this, I help get animals adopted and inspire others to foster so more animals are saved. While my pet pig never made it into my life, something more important did. Fostering taught me life lessons and why service is essential, allowing me to see the world in a different light. Service defines society, and I'm grateful that every puppy and kitten that came into my life allowed me to see that. A Second Chance Puppies and Kittens Shelter has given me the ability to give back to my community in a way that I love. I am forever grateful for what community service has given me.

Silent for a week. Fighting against the unjust treatment I received in my family, I decided the best option presented to me was not to say a word. Maybe their reasoning was justified, as my family simply cannot care for a pig, but I was determined to have the cute, pink, and tiny animal as my new pet. My noble protest against my family was a failure; however, after intense negotiations, we decided the best option was to foster cats and dogs to see if I could handle the commitment. Their decision proved successful as I have gained one thousand community service hours and saved over fifty animals later. There is something so beautiful about saving an animal's life. I foster animals about to be killed in pounds and see them flourish in a safe environment. Doing this has taught me much about myself and my community. For one, these animals have shown me how to be responsible as caring for newborn puppies and kittens is exceptionally challenging. Since the 8th grade, I have taken on that role and learned how to time manage and be fully committed to what I sign up to do. It has also taught me how significant giving back is. Five thousand five hundred animals are killed daily, and by fostering, I get to stop animals from becoming part of that number. Our community is essential, and by saving these animals, I get to be a part of a positive change that will continue to change lives. As I am involved in A Second Chance Puppies and Kittens Shelters program, I also volunteer at events. By doing this, I help get animals adopted and inspire others to foster so more animals are saved. Community is what keeps the world going. Working together for a positive goal is what community service means to me, and with all of the negativity in the world, it is integral for life. Animals allow people to unite and bond despite differences allowing the world to come closer together. If people are divided, no change can be made; however, if a community is linked, the world can move forward for the better. Fostering allowed me to give back in a way that I love, but everybody has something they can do. My mom made masks during covid. My sister teaches dance classes. I foster. Our community defines who we are as a society, and community service allows us to make that definition something everybody loves. While my pet pig never made it into my life, something more important did. Fostering taught me life lessons and why service is essential, allowing me to see the world in a different light. Service defines society, and I'm grateful that every puppy and kitten that came into my life allowed me to see that. A Second Chance Puppies and Kittens Shelter has given me the ability to give back to my community in a way that I love. I am forever grateful for what community service has given me.

Sometimes life feels like I put it on double speed and nothing makes sense... A pervasive feeling I got when I was younger. I was a ball of energy, acting like a kid on a sugar rush 24/7. While my teachers at a school gave up trying to get me on track, my grandmother never did. Maybe it was because she loved me, but she understood that teaching me just took patience. When I was younger, she taught me academics, but as I got older, she taught me something much more important, compassion. During high school, I soon realized that many of my peers did not have access to the same mentor I had growing up. Not only had they lost sight of academics, but they had completely given up on themselves. It was difficult to watch the individuals around me struggle with similar disadvantages. I knew I had to do something. So I did. I joined elementary peer tutoring and spearheaded my own program, where I tutored high school students free of cost. I helped many students with learning disabilities or ADHD not only learn the material but feel confident in themselves. While many think academic success solely has to do with intelligence, the truth is that morale is even more significant. From high school seniors to students in 5th grade, the most challenging part of tutoring was not teaching academics but getting the students to believe that they were capable of learning. While I have participated in various activities, nothing has been more rewarding than watching one of my peers realize they are no less capable of greatness than anyone around him. While tutoring allowed them to pass their classes, it also allowed them to believe in their future, which is the greatest gift I could ever bring to the people around me.

My mom pulled me out of preschool because I was failing; I know it sounds ludicrous, but I continuously selected art over memorizing my letters. While I knew I was thinking smarter, not harder, my teacher disagreed, stating all I would ever be was a "creative." However, she turned out to be right as I transformed my creativity into a passion. After participating in Medical Internships, Robotics, and The DiMino Engineering Program, I discovered my calling was Biomedical Engineering. More specifically, after designing on Autodesk Inventor, I realized I wanted to work on prosthetics. By designing artificial limbs, I can help the lives of others and combine my love for academics and creativity into a career. While prosthetics have made advances, it is still a growing field, with advances yet to be made in their ability to look and function like limbs. Being able to problem solve and access the innovative element in me is why Biomedical Engineering is my future.

Society is full of issues. With these problems adding up, a common group of people is left to fix them: engineers. In reality, the reason for human achievements since the beginning of time can be summed up in engineering. The world is evolving and what sparks this change is problem-solving and the people behind it. Ideas are at the heart of what engineers do, and they use their intelligence to create new perspectives to solve any problems that may come up. After discovering my passion for this in high school I immediately fell in love with the idea of having a career that can solve diverse issues. I also have the opportunity to stand up as a woman and Latina in an underrepresented field. Being able to use my voice and practice my love for science and math daily is exactly why I want to go into engineering. Many things made me realize I wanted to pursue Engineering. My school offers an Engineering course and since the 9th grade, I have been taking the course. I have the opportunity to design houses on Revit and even get PLTW certified. Without the continuous support of my family and friends, I would not have been able to do this. As I come from a family of engineers I am constantly being pushed to do my best and tackle any issues that come up. For example, I wanted to start a woman in stem club however after multiple visits to the office I realized this club wasn't encouraged despite multiple students wanting it to be implemented. The next day I discovered that without any meeting at all a spikeball and fishing club were made. Although I had a twenty-two-page PowerPoint full of in-depth reasons for starting this club, the administration would not even book a meeting. Without support, I wouldn't have had the courage to go to my principal and get this club implemented. Instances like this also make me realize why women are so necessary in this field. Along with studying engineering all through high school I also have been on scholarship for it, joined S.T.E.M and robotics club, and am also the Secretary of the National Technical Honor Society. I have discovered my passion in high school and cant wait to pursue it into and throughout college. Engineering is the base of society and without them the society we know today would not be a thing. Things as simple as the wheel were once made by an engineer and are integral for everyday life. Despite the barriers, I may face I am ready to stand up and pursue the career I love despite the challenges I might face. I love being able to solve problems every day and experience such a diverse field in high school and I cant wait to continue to grow this passion throughout my college experience. With the support of my family and friends, I will be able to follow an impactful field in college while getting to do what I love.

In an unexpected turn of events, people from different walks of life find themselves sharing things in common. Fahrenheit 451 is a book that concentrates on a man named Montag who lives in a disordered society that is a result of gluttony. He burns books for a living and has two main influences that change his life, his wife Mildred and a friend Clarisse. I love this book because it shows how integral literature is in society. It is interesting to me that something as simple as books play such a key role in the lives of so many. The dystopian society featured in this book displays why the freedom of thought will always prevail and despite the entire world against him Montag is able to show the world that books are needed. I also love the friendship displayed in this book. It feels like every book I read is centered around a romantic love story but seeing a friendship that is so strong is really heartwarming. Clarisse gave Montag a purpose. Her jubilant personality attracted Montag to listen to the questions that she was asking. Clarisse, opposite of the norm, played an important role in Montag’s life by showing him he was not happy. Her death inspired him to turn the world upside down for the sake of being able to ask questions. I love this book because it teaches an important lesson through characters that are just trying to get through life themselves and it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Throughout History, math has been a constant tool that has allowed for breakthroughs across the globe. These discoveries have changed the way individuals live everyday life, however, they could not have been done without the help of prominent people with incredible stories. I admire John Napier because he used his intelligence for numerous different endeavors. In engineering class at my school I am constantly hearing about ways to apply what we have learned to real life and John Napier is a great example of someone who did. He was the creator of the logarithm and a passionate Protestant who had many talents that all contributed greatly to history. Born into a wealthy family Napier had access to many different opportunities. Grasping them enthusiastically he proved to be a very intelligent child and went to prime universities. He soon became very interested in theology and gained his infamous reputation partly based on that. When the people were scared of being invaded by Scotland he published “a Plaine Discovery of the Whole Revelation of St.John” to the king he gained a reputation for his eloquence. On top of that, he also created weapons for use in battle. However, in math, he discovered the logarithm that allowed for huge discoveries before computers came into play and allowed people to order the magnitude of a number. I admire him because he used math to make discoveries that we still use today. As I aspire to be an engineer I find it incredible how he discovered so many different things in the field and math and science that are integral to society today. He never stopped applying his intelligence to society despite the barriers surrounding him in that time and that is exactly what I hope to do with engineering in the future.

The rationalization for human achievements since the beginning of time can be summed up into an individual word: Engineering. The world is evolving and what sparks this change is problem-solving. Anybody who has been faced with a dilemma and fixed it has practiced this. Ideas are at the heart of what engineers do, and they use their intelligence to create new perspectives to solve any problems that may come up. However, while there are many impressive technologies in todays society, it is important to look at the simple ones that have improved the lives of humans for a large amount of time. At the heart of engineering are simple machines. Every single object that has been created has incorporated simple machines in one way or another. Out of the six machines, the wheel has played a more significant role than the rest. Dating back to 600 BC the wheel has made the world a better place. The wheel allowed for the wheelbarrow to be created that allowed humans to transport objects. While it may seem simple this technology made life easier for people which is the whole reason that the field of engineering exists. Over time the needs of the people drove engineers to redefine a simple machine into a complex mechanism. Past innovations still exist today but have been improved. Tires are stronger, bigger and more versatile. Wheelbarrows are engineered out of better materials. Without the wheel our daily lives would be different. There are many candidates for the most helpful technology of all time. Many of them – including the wheel – were developed in early civilizations and improved upon over time, applied in a multitude of instruments and impacted all aspects of society. Technologies like these inspire me to see how something so simple can be so impactful. It shows me that despite the complex ideas in technology seen throughout the world that they all can be traced back to one simple idea. Technology can and has made the world a better place and I cant wait to study this and use it for the rest of my life.