Curiosity is my eternal flame, igniting a ceaseless passion for everything from neural network backpropagation to the rhythmic intricacy of Flamenco footwork. Since the moment I could speak, questions spilled from my mouth; yet, I’d also guarantee that my mind was overflowing with inquiry even before I could talk. I want my curiosity to flourish as I navigate college. I plan on taking academically challenging courses that push me to my inquisitive limits and allow me to infuse my curiosity into every aspect of the learning process; you’ll find me in classes like Monte Carlo Methods in Finance. I'll be a permanent resident of my college library’s study rooms, and my enthusiasm for developing tomorrow’s technology will only grow as I learn. With my curiosity, I’ll develop an accurate version of the annual Spotify Wrapped, triumph against paralysis by programming prosthetics with the power of AI, and create survival analyses that map the time to the discovery of hidden network vulnerabilities. I’m excited to throw myself into the hectic college mini-verse because I’ll finally be able to become the world’s expert in Machine Learning. At the same time, I’m nervous about how I’ll budget my entire life. This is the first time I’ll be apart from my family which consists of my mother, my sister, and I. I’ve experienced financial struggles before, like almost throwing up in a Sam’s Club checkout line whenever my Mom would pull out her horrific budgeting app (I still have nightmares about it). I’ve worked since I was 11 years old–and enjoyed every second of it–with the thought of saving occupying my mind every time I clock in. A month ago, I wouldn’t have spent a second worrying about how I’d pay for Wi-Fi. But that’s the only thing I can think about. And even now, my innate curiosity begins to take over as I wonder about budgeting, reducing my frivolous spending habits, and optimizing the paychecks I’ll earn throughout college. I’ll be in a different state trying to balance learning, working, and living an entirely new life. In college, I’ll have to think about how to budget my hard-earned money, but not spend all of my time working to earn it. I want to savor my college experience and feel financially safe. This scholarship will help me fund this new life that I haven’t even begun. Because of this scholarship, I’ll be able to start fulfilling my dream of becoming a world-renowned researcher as a college student. Rather than focusing on working during college to create a strong financial foundation for my future, I’ll be able to explore the complexities of survival analysis in the investigation of time-to-employe-attrition data. Or, I might find that my research interest lies in the statistical analysis of the efficacy of treatments for triple-negative breast cancer. I’ll be the primary analyzer of groundbreaking research as a student because I’ll be pouring every ounce of my energy into revolutionizing the world’s current technological paradigm. I want to become a reputable Data Scientist who ethically contributes to the world. An overarching goal of my career is to define my ethical boundaries so that my contributions to the world are meaningful. I’ll be using my Data Science degree to positively impact the loving people of my Española Valley family, the ever-growing knowledge of the Data Science community, and the universe as a whole. As a proud New Mexican, it is my responsibility to use my education to bring about change.

How can algorithms extract relationships between words? Is it a probability-based approach compiled through text mining, sentence structure labeling, or pattern recognition? How would I build the world’s first Autonomous Cyber Defender Agent, an artificial intelligence-powered super spy that patrols computer networks? What constitutes an intuitive visualization? It’s my job to answer each of these questions, and the billions of others I think of daily, in my pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. A programmer’s mindset is like none other. It requires unbelievable amounts of practice in logical thinking combined with the ability to creatively approach problems to arrive at ingenious solutions. Developing a mindset that defies unsolvable obstacles, questions the efficiency and efficacy of current technology, and propels the universe into the future is an enthralling prospect for me. Moreover, Computer Scientists and Data Scientists are some of the most adaptable analysts in existence. I’ll be able to work on securing the locks of the world’s virtual vaults as a Cybersecurity analyst while simultaneously building survival curves for first-generation students in higher education as a Data Scientist in institutional research. I’ll be part of the team that develops the first fully autonomous Internet of Things fridge capable of communicating with contactless robot shoppers and automated delivery drones–imagine Uber Eats but it isn’t awkward. It’ll even keep stock of its contents, write shopping lists based on your past purchases and potential new recipes, and save you from embarrassing fails like burnt cookies.

Curiosity is my eternal flame, igniting a passion for learning about anything, from neural network backpropagation to the rhythmic intricacy of Flamenco footwork. Since the moment I could speak, questions spilled from my mouth; yet, I’d also guarantee that my mind was overflowing with inquiry even before I could talk. Every moment of my life is spent studying the world around me. I wonder how I could improve the widely disappointing and inaccurate annual Spotify Wrapped or utilize stock market indexes to predict the outcomes of presidential elections. I ponder how I could transform the definition of visual and digital art to include Artificial Intelligence. Curiosity is the thread that guides me down academically rigorous paths to achieve the successes I have today and those that I plan for tomorrow. I will be on the team that creates the first Autonomous Cyber Defender Agent, a sort of Artificial Intelligence system that patrols computer networks like a super spy. It will fight against cyber attacks that increase in number and severity every year. My digital super spy will defend critical energy infrastructure, confidential medical records, classified government information, and private banking credentials, which are just a few of the system’s infinite applications. Each of these data storage methods is at risk; implications of their compromise are unauthorized infiltration of personal records and disclosure of user information. I will be at the forefront of devising new methods to ensure that the locks on our virtual vaults are impenetrable. My advancements in Cybersecurity, utilizing my Data Science education and career, are just one example of my impact on the universe. Although I’m fascinated by genetic algorithms for deterring brute-force password attacks, my influence will also be felt closer to home. My brother dropped out of high school during his freshman year. He did not return to the K-12 education system, and now, his only option for attaining High School Equivalency is Adult Education. To support students like my brother and guarantee their success, I intend to infuse the sheer power of data-driven decision-making into education, specifically into the Adult Education system. I plan to apply tools including survival analysis, intuitive visualization, and Machine Learning to the issue of student attrition in Adult Education programs–first, across my home state of New Mexico, and then nationwide. These tools will allow program directors and individual educators to reach data-informed conclusions that encourage the bold steps Adult Education-ers make when they embark on this ambitious path. But I’m also interested in attacking problems that are historical in context and will continue to impact the world for decades to come. I’ll be using Data Science to examine the aftershocks of colonization in countries such as South Korea, Samoa, and Libya and their socioeconomic development since they were decolonized. I want to understand why some former colonies have experienced economic and political success while others have plunged into turmoil and violence. I want to recognize the effects of Soviet and modern Russian colonization on ethnic groups in Russia (such as the Chechens and Yakuts) to forecast possible uprisings and their correlating ripples through the Russian economy. Except I’m not interested in studying just the effects of colonization. I want to identify the processes of decolonization in the remaining non-self-governing territories, such as the U.S. control over Guam and the French control over New Caledonia. Moreover, investigating the variations in decolonization progression for countries regulated by different Administering Powers may reveal insights that streamline the emotionally and economically difficult path that is decolonization. I’m excited to embark on my Data Science journey, one that will change the world.