Since I was seven years old, I knew I wanted to become an engineer. I was asked in church what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I boldly stood up and answered, Engineer—not knowing what is entailed in becoming an engineer. I have been fortunate and grateful to have great parents and teachers who guided me through school to now attending college in the Fall. As a result of my hard work and their continued guidance, I have achieved a 4.3 GPA. I am part of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Mu Theta Society. I am also a 3-year academic letterman recipient, which places me in the top 10% of my class. I was honored to receive the College Board's National African American Recognition Award. During the pandemic, I thought as many had not known what the future held for me, my family, and my friends. I developed anxiety when I was isolated in my home, unable to socialize with my teachers and friends and all that was happening in society. It was a dark time, but with the support of my parents and communication online with my teachers and friends, I achieved a virtual social environment. As a 15 soon to be 16 year old, I regressed from wanting to learn to drive. It took the support of my parents and their willingness to allow me the opportunity to make the choices for a healthier me. I obtained my graduated driver's license in February 2023. I can now drive myself to school, soccer practice, and social events with my friends without needing my parents to drive me around. I learned adversity, tolerance, and patience during this period. Thankfully, I overcame this period with support from my family and community. Right before the pandemic, I was chosen as a volunteer to work as a guide at the Birmingham Zoo. Still, the pandemic hit, and everything shut down. With an academic load of general and Advanced Placement classes, soccer practice and games, and a commitment to achieve a high GPA, I was offered an alternative to my original choice to volunteer. I will always be grateful to my senior Pastor, Jay Downes. Mr. Downes was able to offer me a volunteer position. He told me he wanted me to restore four metal benches to their original glory. Mr. Downes walked me to the church's tool storage shed and the benches. They were rusty and needed a bunch of sanding and painting. No guidance or direction was offered, but a few words, here you go. It took grit, hard work, and sanding less than a day to realize I needed to find an alternative way. I researched online and found an alternative to sanding, Naval Jelly. I was able to cut down the time of sanding to one day. I spent the next two days wiping down and spray-painting the benches. This was the start of my volunteering journey, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity. I learned practical things from this short-lived opportunity. Mr. Downes, unfortunately, passed away over a year ago due to COVID-19, but he will always live on in my mind. My goal is not just to be an engineer but also to achieve my doctorate in Biomolecular Engineering. It takes dedication to complex work, resilience, and determination to achieve my goal. With continued support, I can achieve my dreams and goals.

Since I was seven years old, I knew I wanted to become an engineer. I was asked in church what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I boldly stood up and answered, Engineer—not knowing what is entailed in becoming an engineer. I have been fortunate and grateful to have great parents and teachers who guided me through school to now attending college in the Fall. As a result of my hard work and their continued guidance, I have achieved a 4.3 GPA. I am part of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Mu Theta Society. I am also a 3-year academic letterman recipient, which places me in the top 10% of my class. I was honored to receive the College Board's National African American Recognition Award. During the pandemic, I thought as many had not known what the future held for me, my family, and my friends. I developed anxiety when I was isolated in my home, unable to socialize with my teachers and friends and all that was happening in society. It was a dark time, but with the support of my parents and communication online with my teachers and friends, I achieved a virtual social environment. As a 15 soon to be 16 year old, I regressed from wanting to learn to drive. It took the support of my parents and their willingness to allow me the opportunity to make the choices for a healthier me. I obtained my graduated driver's license in February 2023. I can now drive myself to school, soccer practice, and social events with my friends without needing my parents to drive me around. I learned adversity, tolerance, and patience during this period. Thankfully, I overcame this period with support from my family and community. Right before the pandemic, I was chosen as a volunteer to work as a guide at the Birmingham Zoo. Still, the pandemic hit, and everything shut down. With an academic load of general and Advanced Placement classes, soccer practice and games, and a commitment to achieve a high GPA, I was offered an alternative to my original choice to volunteer. I will always be grateful to my senior Pastor, Jay Downes. Mr. Downes was able to offer me a volunteer position. He told me he wanted me to restore four metal benches to their original glory. Mr. Downes walked me to the church's tool storage shed and the benches. They were rusty and needed a bunch of sanding and painting. No guidance or direction was offered, but a few words, here you go. It took grit, hard work, and sanding less than a day to realize I needed to find an alternative way. I researched online and found an alternative to sanding, Naval Jelly. I was able to cut down the time of sanding to one day. I spent the next two days wiping down and spray-painting the benches. This was the start of my volunteering journey, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity. I learned practical things from this short-lived opportunity. Mr. Downes, unfortunately, passed away over a year ago due to COVID-19, but he will always live on in my mind. My goal is not just to be an engineer but also to achieve my doctorate in Biomolecular Engineering. It takes dedication to complex work, resilience, and determination to achieve my goal. With continued support, I can achieve my dreams and goals.

Since I was seven years old, I knew I wanted to become an engineer. I was asked in church what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I boldly stood up and answered, Engineer—not knowing what is entailed in becoming an engineer. I have been fortunate and grateful to have great parents and teachers who guided me through school to now attending college in the Fall. As a result of my hard work and their continued guidance, I have achieved a 4.3 GPA. I am part of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Mu Theta Society. I am also a 3-year academic letterman recipient, which places me in the top 10% of my class. I was honored to receive the College Board's National African American Recognition Award. During the pandemic, I thought as many had not known what the future held for me, my family, and my friends. I developed anxiety when I was isolated in my home, unable to socialize with my teachers and friends and all that was happening in society. It was a dark time, but with the support of my parents and communication online with my teachers and friends, I achieved a virtual social environment. As a 15 soon to be 16 year old, I regressed from wanting to learn to drive. It took the support of my parents and their willingness to allow me the opportunity to make the choices for a healthier me. I am glad to say that I obtained my graduated driver's license in February 2023. I can now drive myself to school, soccer practice, and social events with my friends without needing my parents to drive me around. I learned adversity tolerance and patience during this period. Thankfully, I overcame this period with support from my family and community. Right before the pandemic, I was chosen as a volunteer to work as a guide at the Birmingham Zoo, but the pandemic hit, and everything shut down. With an academic load of general and Advanced Placement classes, soccer practice and games, and a commitment to achieve a high GPA, I was offered an alternative to my original choice to volunteer. I will always be grateful to my senior Pastor, Jay Downes. Mr. Downes was able to offer me a volunteer position. He told me he wanted me to restore four metal benches to their original glory. Mr. Downes walked me to the church's tool storage shed and the benches. They were rusty and needed a bunch of sanding and painting. No guidance or direction was offered, but a few words, here you go. It took grit, hard work, and sanding less than a day to realize I needed to find an alternative way. I researched online and found an alternative to sanding, Naval Jelly. I was able to cut down the time of sanding to one day. I spent the next two days wiping down and spray-painting the benches. This was the start of my volunteering journey, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity. I learned practical things from this short-lived opportunity. Mr. Downes, unfortunately, passed away over a year ago due to COVID-19, but he will always live on in my mind. My goal is not just to be an engineer but also to achieve my doctorate in Biomolecular Engineering. I now know that it takes dedication to complex work, resilience, and determination to achieve my goal, and with continued support, I know that I can achieve my dreams and goals.

Since I was seven years old, I knew I wanted to become an engineer. I was asked in church what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I boldly stood up and answered, Engineer—not knowing what is entailed in becoming an engineer. I have been fortunate and grateful to have great parents and teachers who guided me through school to now attending college in the Fall. As a result of my hard work and their continued guidance, I have achieved a 4.3 GPA. I am part of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Mu Theta Society. I am also a 3-year academic letterman recipient, which places me in the top 10% of my class. I was honored to receive the College Board's National African American Recognition Award. During the pandemic, I thought as many had not known what the future held for me, my family, and my friends. I developed anxiety when I was isolated in my home, unable to socialize with my teachers and friends and all that was happening in society. It was a dark time, but with the support of my parents and communication online with my teachers and friends, I achieved a virtual social environment. As a 15 soon to be 16 year old, I regressed from wanting to learn to drive. It took the support of my parents and their willingness to allow me the opportunity to make the choices for a healthier me. I am glad to say that I obtained my graduated driver's license in February 2023. I can now drive myself to school, soccer practice, and social events with my friends without needing my parents to drive me around. I learned adversity tolerance and patience during this period. Thankfully, I overcame this period with support from my family and community. Right before the pandemic, I was chosen as a volunteer to work as a guide at the Birmingham Zoo, but the pandemic hit, and everything shut down. With an academic load of general and Advanced Placement classes, soccer practice and games, and a commitment to achieve a high GPA, I was offered an alternative to my original choice to volunteer. I will always be grateful to my senior Pastor, Jay Downes. Mr. Downes was able to offer me a volunteer position. He told me he wanted me to restore four metal benches to their original glory. Mr. Downes walked me to the church's tool storage shed and the benches. They were rusty and needed a bunch of sanding and painting. No guidance or direction was offered, but a few words, here you go. It took grit, hard work, and sanding less than a day to realize I needed to find an alternative way. I researched online and found an alternative to sanding, Naval Jelly. I was able to cut down the time of sanding to one day. I spent the next two days wiping down and spray-painting the benches. This was the start of my volunteering journey, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity. I learned practical things from this short-lived opportunity. Mr. Downes, unfortunately, passed away over a year ago due to COVID-19, but he will always live on in my mind. My goal is not just to be an engineer but also to achieve my doctorate in Biomolecular Engineering. I now know that it takes dedication to complex work, resilience, and determination to achieve my goal, and with continued support, I know that I can achieve my dreams and goals.

Since I was seven years old, I knew I wanted to become an engineer. I was asked in church what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I boldly stood up and answered, Engineer—not knowing what is entailed in becoming an engineer. I have been fortunate and grateful to have great parents and teachers who guided me through school to now attending college in the Fall. As a result of my hard work and their continued guidance, I have achieved a 4.3 GPA. I am part of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Mu Theta Society. I am also a 3-year academic letterman recipient, which places me in the top 10% of my class. I was honored to receive the College Board's National African American Recognition Award. During the pandemic, I thought as many had not known what the future held for me, my family, and my friends. I developed anxiety when I was isolated in my home, unable to socialize with my teachers and friends and all that was happening in society. It was a dark time, but with the support of my parents and communication online with my teachers and friends, I achieved a virtual social environment. As a 15 soon to be 16 year old, I regressed from wanting to learn to drive. It took the support of my parents and their willingness to allow me the opportunity to make the choices for a healthier me. I am glad to say that I obtained my graduated driver's license in February 2023. I can now drive myself to school, soccer practice, and social events with my friends without needing my parents to drive me around. I learned adversity tolerance and patience during this period. Thankfully, I overcame this period with support from my family and community. Right before the pandemic, I was chosen as a volunteer to work as a guide at the Birmingham Zoo, but the pandemic hit, and everything shut down. With an academic load of general and Advanced Placement classes, soccer practice and games, and a commitment to achieve a high GPA, I was offered an alternative to my original choice to volunteer. I will always be grateful to my senior Pastor, Jay Downes. Mr. Downes was able to offer me a volunteer position. He told me he wanted me to restore four metal benches to their original glory. Mr. Downes walked me to the church's tool storage shed and the benches. They were rusty and needed a bunch of sanding and painting. No guidance or direction was offered, but a few words, here you go. It took grit, hard work, and sanding less than a day to realize I needed to find an alternative way. I researched online and found an alternative to sanding, Naval Jelly. I was able to cut down the time of sanding to one day. I spent the next two days wiping down and spray-painting the benches. This was the start of my volunteering journey, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity. I learned practical things from this short-lived opportunity. Mr. Downes, unfortunately, passed away over a year ago due to COVID-19, but he will always live on in my mind. My goal is not just to be an engineer but also to achieve my doctorate in Biomolecular Engineering. I now know that it takes dedication to complex work, resilience, and determination to achieve my goal, and with continued support, I know that I can achieve my dreams and goals.

Since I was seven years old, I knew I wanted to become an engineer. I was asked in church what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I boldly stood up and answered, Engineer—not knowing what is entailed in becoming an engineer. I have been fortunate and grateful to have great parents and teachers who guided me through school to now attending college in the Fall. As a result of my hard work and their continued guidance, I have achieved a 4.3 GPA. I am part of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Mu Theta Society. I am also a 3-year academic letterman recipient, which places me in the top 10% of my class. I was honored to receive the College Board's National African American Recognition Award. During the pandemic, I thought as many had not known what the future held for me, my family, and my friends. I developed anxiety when I was isolated in my home, unable to socialize with my teachers and friends and all that was happening in society. It was a dark time, but with the support of my parents and communication online with my teachers and friends, I achieved a virtual social environment. As a 15 soon to be 16 year old, I regressed from wanting to learn to drive. It took the support of my parents and their willingness to allow me the opportunity to make the choices for a healthier me. I am glad to say that I obtained my graduated driver's license in February 2023. I can now drive myself to school, soccer practice, and social events with my friends without needing my parents to drive me around. I learned adversity tolerance and patience during this period. Thankfully, I overcame this period with support from my family and community. Right before the pandemic, I was chosen as a volunteer to work as a guide at the Birmingham Zoo, but the pandemic hit, and everything shut down. With an academic load of general and Advanced Placement classes, soccer practice and games, and a commitment to achieve a high GPA, I was offered an alternative to my original choice to volunteer. I will always be grateful to my senior Pastor, Jay Downes. Mr. Downes was able to offer me a volunteer position. He told me he wanted me to restore four metal benches to their original glory. Mr. Downes walked me to the church's tool storage shed and the benches. They were rusty and needed a bunch of sanding and painting. No guidance or direction was offered, but a few words, here you go. It took grit, hard work, and sanding less than a day to realize I needed to find an alternative way. I researched online and found an alternative to sanding, Naval Jelly. I was able to cut down the time of sanding to one day. I spent the next two days wiping down and spray-painting the benches. This was the start of my volunteering journey, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity. I learned practical things from this short-lived opportunity. Mr. Downes, unfortunately, passed away over a year ago due to COVID-19, but he will always live on in my mind. My goal is not just to be an engineer but also to achieve my doctorate in Biomolecular Engineering. I now know that it takes dedication to complex work, resilience, and determination to achieve my goal, and with continued support, I know that I can achieve my dreams and goals.

Since I was seven years old, I knew I wanted to become an engineer. I was asked in church what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I boldly stood up and answered, Engineer—not knowing what is entailed in becoming an engineer. I have been fortunate and grateful to have great parents and teachers who guided me through school to now attending college in the Fall. As a result of my hard work and their continued guidance, I have achieved a 4.3 GPA. I am part of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Mu Theta Society. I am also a 3-year academic letterman recipient, which places me in the top 10% of my class. I was honored to receive the College Board's National African American Recognition Award. During the pandemic, I thought as many had not known what the future held for me, my family, and my friends. I developed anxiety when I was isolated in my home, unable to socialize with my teachers and friends and all that was happening in society. It was a dark time, but with the support of my parents and communication online with my teachers and friends, I achieved a virtual social environment. As a 15 soon to be 16 year old, I regressed from wanting to learn to drive. It took the support of my parents and their willingness to allow me the opportunity to make the choices for a healthier me. I am glad to say that I obtained my graduated driver's license in February 2023. I can now drive myself to school, soccer practice, and social events with my friends without needing my parents to drive me around. I learned adversity tolerance and patience during this period. Thankfully, I overcame this period with support from my family and community. Right before the pandemic, I was chosen as a volunteer to work as a guide at the Birmingham Zoo, but the pandemic hit, and everything shut down. With an academic load of general and Advanced Placement classes, soccer practice and games, and a commitment to achieve a high GPA, I was offered an alternative to my original choice to volunteer. I will always be grateful to my senior Pastor, Jay Downes. Mr. Downes was able to offer me a volunteer position. He told me he wanted me to restore four metal benches to their original glory. Mr. Downes walked me to the church's tool storage shed and the benches. They were rusty and needed a bunch of sanding and painting. No guidance or direction was offered, but a few words, here you go. It took grit, hard work, and sanding less than a day to realize I needed to find an alternative way. I researched online and found an alternative to sanding, Naval Jelly. I was able to cut down the time of sanding to one day. I spent the next two days wiping down and spray-painting the benches. This was the start of my volunteering journey, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity. I learned practical things from this short-lived opportunity. Mr. Downes, unfortunately, passed away over a year ago due to COVID-19, but he will always live on in my mind. My goal is not just to be an engineer but also to achieve my doctorate in Biomolecular Engineering. I now know that it takes dedication to complex work, resilience, and determination to achieve my goal, and with continued support, I know that I can achieve my dreams and goals.

Since I was seven years old, I knew I wanted to become an engineer. I was asked in church what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I boldly stood up and answered, Engineer—not knowing what is entailed in becoming an engineer. I have been fortunate and grateful to have great parents and teachers who guided me through school to now attending college in the Fall. As a result of my hard work and their continued guidance, I have achieved a 4.3 GPA. I am part of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Mu Theta Society. I am also a 3-year academic letterman recipient, which places me in the top 10% of my class. I was honored to receive the College Board's National African American Recognition Award. During the pandemic, I thought as many had not known what the future held for me, my family, and my friends. I developed anxiety when I was isolated in my home, unable to socialize with my teachers and friends and all that was happening in society. It was a dark time, but with the support of my parents and communication online with my teachers and friends, I achieved a virtual social environment. As a 15 soon to be 16 year old, I regressed from wanting to learn to drive. It took the support of my parents and their willingness to allow me the opportunity to make the choices for a healthier me. I am glad to say that I obtained my graduated driver's license in February 2023. I can now drive myself to school, soccer practice, and social events with my friends without needing my parents to drive me around. I learned adversity tolerance and patience during this period. Thankfully, I overcame this period with support from my family and community. Right before the pandemic, I was chosen as a volunteer to work as a guide at the Birmingham Zoo, but the pandemic hit, and everything shut down. With an academic load of general and Advanced Placement classes, soccer practice and games, and a commitment to achieve a high GPA, I was offered an alternative to my original choice to volunteer. I will always be grateful to my senior Pastor, Jay Downes. Mr. Downes was able to offer me a volunteer position. He told me he wanted me to restore four metal benches to their original glory. Mr. Downes walked me to the church's tool storage shed and the benches. They were rusty and needed a bunch of sanding and painting. No guidance or direction was offered, but a few words, here you go. It took grit, hard work, and sanding less than a day to realize I needed to find an alternative way. I researched online and found an alternative to sanding, Naval Jelly. I was able to cut down the time of sanding to one day. I spent the next two days wiping down and spray-painting the benches. This was the start of my volunteering journey, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity. I learned practical things from this short-lived opportunity. Mr. Downes, unfortunately, passed away over a year ago due to COVID-19, but he will always live on in my mind. My goal is not just to be an engineer but also to achieve my doctorate in Biomolecular Engineering. I now know that it takes dedication to complex work, resilience, and determination to achieve my goal, and with continued support, I know that I can achieve my dreams and goals.

Since I was seven years old, I knew I wanted to become an engineer. I was asked in church what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I boldly stood up and answered, Engineer—not knowing what is entailed in becoming an engineer. I have been fortunate and grateful to have great parents and teachers who guided me through school to now attending college in the Fall. As a result of my hard work and their continued guidance, I have achieved a 4.3 GPA. I am part of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Mu Theta Society. I am also a 3-year academic letterman recipient, which places me in the top 10% of my class. I was honored to receive the College Board's National African American Recognition Award. During the pandemic, I thought as many had not known what the future held for me, my family, and my friends. I developed anxiety when I was isolated in my home, unable to socialize with my teachers and friends and all that was happening in society. It was a dark time, but with the support of my parents and communication online with my teachers and friends, I achieved a virtual social environment. As a 15 soon to be 16 year old, I regressed from wanting to learn to drive. It took the support of my parents and their willingness to allow me the opportunity to make the choices for a healthier me. I am glad to say that I obtained my graduated driver's license in February 2023. I can now drive myself to school, soccer practice, and social events with my friends without needing my parents to drive me around. I learned adversity tolerance and patience during this period. Thankfully, I overcame this period with support from my family and community. Right before the pandemic, I was chosen as a volunteer to work as a guide at the Birmingham Zoo, but the pandemic hit, and everything shut down. With an academic load of general and Advanced Placement classes, soccer practice and games, and a commitment to achieve a high GPA, I was offered an alternative to my original choice to volunteer. I will always be grateful to my senior Pastor, Jay Downes. Mr. Downes was able to offer me a volunteer position. He told me he wanted me to restore four metal benches to their original glory. Mr. Downes walked me to the church's tool storage shed and the benches. They were rusty and needed a bunch of sanding and painting. No guidance or direction was offered, but a few words, here you go. It took grit, hard work, and sanding less than a day to realize I needed to find an alternative way. I researched online and found an alternative to sanding, Naval Jelly. I was able to cut down the time of sanding to one day. I spent the next two days wiping down and spray-painting the benches. This was the start of my volunteering journey, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity. I learned practical things from this short-lived opportunity. Mr. Downes, unfortunately, passed away over a year ago due to COVID-19, but he will always live on in my mind. My goal is not just to be an engineer but also to achieve my doctorate in Biomolecular Engineering. I now know that it takes dedication to complex work, resilience, and determination to achieve my goal, and with continued support, I know that I can achieve my dreams and goals.

Since I was seven years old, I knew I wanted to become an engineer. I was asked in church what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I boldly stood up and answered, Engineer—not knowing what is entailed in becoming an engineer. I have been fortunate and grateful to have great parents and teachers who guided me through school to now attending college in the Fall. As a result of my hard work and their continued guidance, I have achieved a 4.3 GPA. I am part of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Mu Theta Society. I am also a 3-year academic letterman recipient, which places me in the top 10% of my class. I was honored to receive the College Board's National African American Recognition Award. During the pandemic, I thought as many had not known what the future held for me, my family, and my friends. I developed anxiety when I was isolated in my home, unable to socialize with my teachers and friends and all that was happening in society. It was a dark time, but with the support of my parents and communication online with my teachers and friends, I achieved a virtual social environment. As a 15 soon to be 16 year old, I regressed from wanting to learn to drive. It took the support of my parents and their willingness to allow me the opportunity to make the choices for a healthier me. I am glad to say that I obtained my graduated driver's license in February 2023. I can now drive myself to school, soccer practice, and social events with my friends without needing my parents to drive me around. I learned adversity tolerance and patience during this period. Thankfully, I overcame this period with support from my family and community. Right before the pandemic, I was chosen as a volunteer to work as a guide at the Birmingham Zoo, but the pandemic hit, and everything shut down. With an academic load of general and Advanced Placement classes, soccer practice and games, and a commitment to achieve a high GPA, I was offered an alternative to my original choice to volunteer. I will always be grateful to my senior Pastor, Jay Downes. Mr. Downes was able to offer me a volunteer position. He told me he wanted me to restore four metal benches to their original glory. Mr. Downes walked me to the church's tool storage shed and the benches. They were rusty and needed a bunch of sanding and painting. No guidance or direction was offered, but a few words, here you go. It took grit, hard work, and sanding less than a day to realize I needed to find an alternative way. I researched online and found an alternative to sanding, Naval Jelly. I was able to cut down the time of sanding to one day. I spent the next two days wiping down and spray-painting the benches. This was the start of my volunteering journey, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity. I learned practical things from this short-lived opportunity. Mr. Downes, unfortunately, passed away over a year ago due to COVID-19, but he will always live on in my mind. My goal is not just to be an engineer but also to achieve my doctorate in Biomolecular Engineering. I now know that it takes dedication to complex work, resilience, and determination to achieve my goal, and with continued support, I know that I can achieve my dreams and goals.

Since I was seven years old, I knew I wanted to become an engineer. I was asked in church what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I boldly stood up and answered, Engineer—not knowing what is entailed in becoming an engineer. I have been fortunate and grateful to have great parents and teachers who guided me through school to now attending college in the Fall. As a result of my hard work and their continued guidance, I have achieved a 4.3 GPA. I am part of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Mu Theta Society. I am also a 3-year academic letterman recipient, which places me in the top 10% of my class. I was honored to receive the College Board's National African American Recognition Award. During the pandemic, I thought as many had not known what the future held for me, my family, and my friends. I developed anxiety when I was isolated in my home, unable to socialize with my teachers and friends and all that was happening in society. It was a dark time, but with the support of my parents and communication online with my teachers and friends, I achieved a virtual social environment. As a 15 soon to be 16 year old, I regressed from wanting to learn to drive. It took the support of my parents and their willingness to allow me the opportunity to make the choices for a healthier me. I am glad to say that I obtained my graduated driver's license in February 2023. I can now drive myself to school, soccer practice, and social events with my friends without needing my parents to drive me around. I learned adversity tolerance and patience during this period. Thankfully, I overcame this period with support from my family and community. Right before the pandemic, I was chosen as a volunteer to work as a guide at the Birmingham Zoo, but the pandemic hit, and everything shut down. With an academic load of general and Advanced Placement classes, soccer practice and games, and a commitment to achieve a high GPA, I was offered an alternative to my original choice to volunteer. I will always be grateful to my senior Pastor, Jay Downes. Mr. Downes was able to offer me a volunteer position. He told me he wanted me to restore four metal benches to their original glory. Mr. Downes walked me to the church's tool storage shed and the benches. They were rusty and needed a bunch of sanding and painting. No guidance or direction was offered, but a few words, here you go. It took grit, hard work, and sanding less than a day to realize I needed to find an alternative way. I researched online and found an alternative to sanding, Naval Jelly. I was able to cut down the time of sanding to one day. I spent the next two days wiping down and spray-painting the benches. This was the start of my volunteering journey, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity. I learned practical things from this short-lived opportunity. Mr. Downes, unfortunately, passed away over a year ago due to COVID-19, but he will always live on in my mind. My goal is not just to be an engineer but also to achieve my doctorate in Biomolecular Engineering. I now know that it takes dedication to complex work, resilience, and determination to achieve my goal, and with continued support, I know that I can achieve my dreams and goals.

Since I was seven years old, I knew I wanted to become an engineer. I was asked in church what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I boldly stood up and answered, Engineer—not knowing what is entailed in becoming an engineer. I have been fortunate and grateful to have great parents and teachers who guided me through school to now attending college in the Fall. As a result of my hard work and their continued guidance, I have achieved a 4.3 GPA. I am part of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Mu Theta Society. I am also a 3-year academic letterman recipient, which places me in the top 10% of my class. I was honored to receive the College Board's National African American Recognition Award. During the pandemic, I thought as many had not known what the future held for me, my family, and my friends. I developed anxiety when I was isolated in my home, unable to socialize with my teachers and friends and all that was happening in society. It was a dark time, but with the support of my parents and communication online with my teachers and friends, I achieved a virtual social environment. As a 15 soon to be 16 year old, I regressed from wanting to learn to drive. It took the support of my parents and their willingness to allow me the opportunity to make the choices for a healthier me. I am glad to say that I obtained my graduated driver's license in February 2023. I can now drive myself to school, soccer practice, and social events with my friends without needing my parents to drive me around. I learned adversity tolerance and patience during this period. Thankfully, I overcame this period with support from my family and community. Right before the pandemic, I was chosen as a volunteer to work as a guide at the Birmingham Zoo, but the pandemic hit, and everything shut down. With an academic load of general and Advanced Placement classes, soccer practice and games, and a commitment to achieve a high GPA, I was offered an alternative to my original choice to volunteer. I will always be grateful to my senior Pastor, Jay Downes. Mr. Downes was able to offer me a volunteer position. He told me he wanted me to restore four metal benches to their original glory. Mr. Downes walked me to the church's tool storage shed and the benches. They were rusty and needed a bunch of sanding and painting. No guidance or direction was offered, but a few words, here you go. It took grit, hard work, and sanding less than a day to realize I needed to find an alternative way. I researched online and found an alternative to sanding, Naval Jelly. I was able to cut down the time of sanding to one day. I spent the next two days wiping down and spray-painting the benches. This was the start of my volunteering journey, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity. I learned practical things from this short-lived opportunity. Mr. Downes, unfortunately, passed away over a year ago due to COVID-19, but he will always live on in my mind. My goal is not just to be an engineer but also to achieve my doctorate in Biomolecular Engineering. I now know that it takes dedication to complex work, resilience, and determination to achieve my goal, and with continued support, I know that I can achieve my dreams and goals.

Since I was seven years old, I knew I wanted to become an engineer. I was asked in church what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I boldly stood up and answered, Engineer—not knowing what is entailed in becoming an engineer. I have been fortunate and grateful to have great parents and teachers who guided me through school to now attending college in the Fall. As a result of my hard work and their continued guidance, I have achieved a 4.3 GPA. I am part of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Mu Theta Society. I am also a 3-year academic letterman recipient, which places me in the top 10% of my class. I was honored to receive the College Board's National African American Recognition Award. During the pandemic, I thought as many had not known what the future held for me, my family, and my friends. I developed anxiety when I was isolated in my home, unable to socialize with my teachers and friends and all that was happening in society. It was a dark time, but with the support of my parents and communication online with my teachers and friends, I achieved a virtual social environment. As a 15 soon to be 16 year old, I regressed from wanting to learn to drive. It took the support of my parents and their willingness to allow me the opportunity to make the choices for a healthier me. I am glad to say that I obtained my graduated driver's license in February 2023. I can now drive myself to school, soccer practice, and social events with my friends without needing my parents to drive me around. I learned adversity tolerance and patience during this period. Thankfully, I overcame this period with support from my family and community. Right before the pandemic, I was chosen as a volunteer to work as a guide at the Birmingham Zoo, but the pandemic hit, and everything shut down. With an academic load of general and Advanced Placement classes, soccer practice and games, and a commitment to achieve a high GPA, I was offered an alternative to my original choice to volunteer. I will always be grateful to my senior Pastor, Jay Downes. Mr. Downes was able to offer me a volunteer position. He told me he wanted me to restore four metal benches to their original glory. Mr. Downes walked me to the church's tool storage shed and the benches. They were rusty and needed a bunch of sanding and painting. No guidance or direction was offered, but a few words, here you go. It took grit, hard work, and sanding less than a day to realize I needed to find an alternative way. I researched online and found an alternative to sanding, Naval Jelly. I was able to cut down the time of sanding to one day. I spent the next two days wiping down and spray-painting the benches. This was the start of my volunteering journey, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity. I learned practical things from this short-lived opportunity. Mr. Downes, unfortunately, passed away over a year ago due to COVID-19, but he will always live on in my mind. My goal is not just to be an engineer but also to achieve my doctorate in Biomolecular Engineering. I now know that it takes dedication to complex work, resilience, and determination to achieve my goal, and with continued support, I know that I can achieve my dreams and goals.

Since I was seven years old, I knew I wanted to become an engineer. I was asked in church what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I boldly stood up and answered, Engineer—not knowing what is entailed in becoming an engineer. I have been fortunate and grateful to have great parents and teachers who guided me through school to now attending college in the Fall. As a result of my hard work and their continued guidance, I have achieved a 4.3 GPA. I am part of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Mu Theta Society. I am also a 3-year academic letterman recipient, which places me in the top 10% of my class. I was honored to receive the College Board's National African American Recognition Award. During the pandemic, I thought as many had not known what the future held for me, my family, and my friends. I developed anxiety when I was isolated in my home, unable to socialize with my teachers and friends and all that was happening in society. It was a dark time, but with the support of my parents and communication online with my teachers and friends, I achieved a virtual social environment. As a 15 soon to be 16 year old, I regressed from wanting to learn to drive. It took the support of my parents and their willingness to allow me the opportunity to make the choices for a healthier me. I am glad to say that I obtained my graduated driver's license in February 2023. I can now drive myself to school, soccer practice, and social events with my friends without needing my parents to drive me around. I learned adversity tolerance and patience during this period. Thankfully, I overcame this period with support from my family and community. Right before the pandemic, I was chosen as a volunteer to work as a guide at the Birmingham Zoo, but the pandemic hit, and everything shut down. With an academic load of general and Advanced Placement classes, soccer practice and games, and a commitment to achieve a high GPA, I was offered an alternative to my original choice to volunteer. I will always be grateful to my senior Pastor, Jay Downes. Mr. Downes was able to offer me a volunteer position. He told me he wanted me to restore four metal benches to their original glory. Mr. Downes walked me to the church's tool storage shed and the benches. They were rusty and needed a bunch of sanding and painting. No guidance or direction was offered, but a few words, here you go. It took grit, hard work, and sanding less than a day to realize I needed to find an alternative way. I researched online and found an alternative to sanding, Naval Jelly. I was able to cut down the time of sanding to one day. I spent the next two days wiping down and spray-painting the benches. This was the start of my volunteering journey, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity. I learned practical things from this short-lived opportunity. Mr. Downes, unfortunately, passed away over a year ago due to COVID-19, but he will always live on in my mind. My goal is not just to be an engineer but also to achieve my doctorate in Biomolecular Engineering. I now know that it takes dedication to complex work, resilience, and determination to achieve my goal, and with continued support, I know that I can achieve my dreams and goals.

Since I was seven years old, I knew I wanted to become an engineer. I was asked in church what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I boldly stood up and answered, Engineer—not knowing what is entailed in becoming an engineer. I have been fortunate and grateful to have great parents and teachers who guided me through school to now attending college in the Fall. As a result of my hard work and their continued guidance, I have achieved a 4.3 GPA. I am part of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Mu Theta Society. I am also a 3-year academic letterman recipient, which places me in the top 10% of my class. I was honored to receive the College Board's National African American Recognition Award. During the pandemic, I thought as many had not known what the future held for me, my family, and my friends. I developed anxiety when I was isolated in my home, unable to socialize with my teachers and friends and all that was happening in society. It was a dark time, but with the support of my parents and communication online with my teachers and friends, I achieved a virtual social environment. As a 15 soon to be 16 year old, I regressed from wanting to learn to drive. It took the support of my parents and their willingness to allow me the opportunity to make the choices for a healthier me. I am glad to say that I obtained my graduated driver's license in February 2023. I can now drive myself to school, soccer practice, and social events with my friends without needing my parents to drive me around. I learned adversity tolerance and patience during this period. Thankfully, I overcame this period with support from my family and community. Right before the pandemic, I was chosen as a volunteer to work as a guide at the Birmingham Zoo, but the pandemic hit, and everything shut down. With an academic load of general and Advanced Placement classes, soccer practice and games, and a commitment to achieve a high GPA, I was offered an alternative to my original choice to volunteer. I will always be grateful to my senior Pastor, Jay Downes. Mr. Downes was able to offer me a volunteer position. He told me he wanted me to restore four metal benches to their original glory. Mr. Downes walked me to the church's tool storage shed and the benches. They were rusty and needed a bunch of sanding and painting. No guidance or direction was offered, but a few words, here you go. It took grit, hard work, and sanding less than a day to realize I needed to find an alternative way. I researched online and found an alternative to sanding, Naval Jelly. I was able to cut down the time of sanding to one day. I spent the next two days wiping down and spray-painting the benches. This was the start of my volunteering journey, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity. I learned practical things from this short-lived opportunity. Mr. Downes, unfortunately, passed away over a year ago due to COVID-19, but he will always live on in my mind. My goal is not just to be an engineer but also to achieve my doctorate in Biomolecular Engineering. I now know that it takes dedication to complex work, resilience, and determination to achieve my goal, and with continued support, I know that I can achieve my dreams and goals.

Since I was seven years old, I knew I wanted to become an engineer. I was asked in church what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I boldly stood up and answered, Engineer—not knowing what is entailed in becoming an engineer. I have been fortunate and grateful to have great parents and teachers who guided me through school to now attending college in the Fall. As a result of my hard work and their continued guidance, I have achieved a 4.3 GPA. I am part of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Mu Theta Society. I am also a 3-year academic letterman recipient, which places me in the top 10% of my class. I was honored to receive the College Board's National African American Recognition Award. During the pandemic, I thought as many had not known what the future held for me, my family, and my friends. I developed anxiety when I was isolated in my home, unable to socialize with my teachers and friends and all that was happening in society. It was a dark time, but with the support of my parents and communication online with my teachers and friends, I achieved a virtual social environment. As a 15 soon to be 16 year old, I regressed from wanting to learn to drive. It took the support of my parents and their willingness to allow me the opportunity to make the choices for a healthier me. I am glad to say that I obtained my graduated driver's license in February 2023. I can now drive myself to school, soccer practice, and social events with my friends without needing my parents to drive me around. I learned adversity tolerance and patience during this period. Thankfully, I overcame this period with support from my family and community. Right before the pandemic, I was chosen as a volunteer to work as a guide at the Birmingham Zoo, but the pandemic hit, and everything shut down. With an academic load of general and Advanced Placement classes, soccer practice and games, and a commitment to achieve a high GPA, I was offered an alternative to my original choice to volunteer. I will always be grateful to my senior Pastor, Jay Downes. Mr. Downes was able to offer me a volunteer position. He told me he wanted me to restore four metal benches to their original glory. Mr. Downes walked me to the church's tool storage shed and the benches. They were rusty and needed a bunch of sanding and painting. No guidance or direction was offered, but a few words, here you go. It took grit, hard work, and sanding less than a day to realize I needed to find an alternative way. I researched online and found an alternative to sanding, Naval Jelly. I was able to cut down the time of sanding to one day. I spent the next two days wiping down and spray-painting the benches. This was the start of my volunteering journey, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity. I learned practical things from this short-lived opportunity. Mr. Downes, unfortunately, passed away over a year ago due to COVID-19, but he will always live on in my mind. My goal is not just to be an engineer but also to achieve my doctorate in Biomolecular Engineering. I now know that it takes dedication to complex work, resilience, and determination to achieve my goal, and with continued support, I know that I can achieve my dreams and goals.

Since I was seven years old, I knew I wanted to become an engineer. I was asked in church what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I boldly stood up and answered, Engineer—not knowing what is entailed in becoming an engineer. I have been fortunate and grateful to have great parents and teachers who guided me through school to now attending college in the Fall. As a result of my hard work and their continued guidance, I have achieved a 4.3 GPA. I am part of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Computer Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Mu Theta Society. I am also a 3-year academic letterman recipient, which places me in the top 10% of my class. I was honored to receive the College Board's National African American Recognition Award. During the pandemic, I thought as many had not known what the future held for me, my family, and my friends. I developed anxiety when I was isolated in my home, unable to socialize with my teachers and friends and all that was happening in society. It was a dark time, but with the support of my parents and communication online with my teachers and friends, I achieved a virtual social environment. As a 15 soon to be 16 year old, I regressed from wanting to learn to drive. It took the support of my parents and their willingness to allow me the opportunity to make the choices for a healthier me. I am glad to say that I obtained my graduated driver's license in February 2023. I can now drive myself to school, soccer practice, and social events with my friends without needing my parents to drive me around. I learned adversity tolerance and patience during this period. Thankfully, I overcame this period with support from my family and community. Right before the pandemic, I was chosen as a volunteer to work as a guide at the Birmingham Zoo, but the pandemic hit, and everything shut down. With an academic load of general and Advanced Placement classes, soccer practice and games, and a commitment to achieve a high GPA, I was offered an alternative to my original choice to volunteer. I will always be grateful to my senior Pastor, Jay Downes. Mr. Downes was able to offer me a volunteer position. He told me he wanted me to restore four metal benches to their original glory. Mr. Downes walked me to the church's tool storage shed and the benches. They were rusty and needed a bunch of sanding and painting. No guidance or direction was offered, but a few words, here you go. It took grit, hard work, and sanding less than a day to realize I needed to find an alternative way. I researched online and found an alternative to sanding, Naval Jelly. I was able to cut down the time of sanding to one day. I spent the next two days wiping down and spray-painting the benches. This was the start of my volunteering journey, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity. I learned practical things from this short-lived opportunity. Mr. Downes, unfortunately, passed away over a year ago due to COVID-19, but he will always live on in my mind. My goal is not just to be an engineer but also to achieve my doctorate in Biomolecular Engineering. I now know that it takes dedication to complex work, resilience, and determination to achieve my goal, and with continued support, I know that I can achieve my dreams and goals.