On January 8th, 2024, my father passed away from a sudden heart attack in front of me outside of my grandmother’s home. Hours before, we were laughing and talking about each other's day, nothing hinted at the fact he might have been ill. All the nearest hospitals were full and by the time they made it to another facility that was farther away, it was too late. One moment I was speaking to him and the next I was staring at someone who was no longer present. The weeks after he passed, I struggled to make sense of what had happened. It didn’t feel real, it felt like a massive prank on me and everyone was in on it. My father was devoted to his faith and our family, losing him so suddenly left me feeling confused and angry. I questioned my purpose, fairness and even God. All that was in me was anger. I searched for a reason but never found one. The lack of reasoning made accepting the fact he was gone much harder to accept. Over time, my anger turned into grief. I had to accept that he passed and nothing I could do or say would bring him back. Then slowly, instead of letting grief take a hold of me, it reshaped me. I reflected on the moments I had with my father and what impacting legacy he left behind. He was there everytime I needed him whether it be at a game or when I was doing my homework. Everyday after school once he picked me up, we would have so many laughs and interesting conversations. I can hear them so clearly, it's like I am talking to him. When I told him I received my first football offer from the University of La Verne he was so excited. He likes that I already won the national championship. His belief in me never wavered. His passing forced me into being a man. I had to take care of my family, especially my mother. I moved through purpose, with a clear goal in mind. The goal was getting to college, finishing college and taking care of my mom. I felt a need to continue his legacy, become the man that he was. I realized that the lessons he taught me were not meant to end with him but they were meant to continue through me. Today, I am pursuing a degree in electrical engineering at the University of Southern California while playing football as a student-athlete. His voice is always in my ear, acting as a spiritual guide in this new chapter of my life I am in. Saying his favorite saying, “Next man up.” This experience has shaped me by teaching me resilience, responsibility, and purpose. It still hurts to think about him being gone but one thing is certain, I will carry on his legacy.

The reason I chose to pursue a degree in STEM is because I realized that the way to change the world is to engineer a better one. In high school, I had the amazing opportunity to be part of an organization which was The International Space Station Program. In this program we built two projects that were sent to the International Space Station, those being seed germination in micro gravity and a liquid-resin 3D printer. Being able to watch something I built go to space and record the data live, compelled me to become part of a mission larger than myself. STEM to me was no longer about circuit diagrams and mathematical equations, it became a way to revolutionize and remake the world. As an African American student-athlete pursuing electrical engineering at the University of Southern California, I am aware that my presence in this space is not common. People of my color normally are only in prestigious colleges like USC because of athletics. This reality doesn't discourage me, it motivates me. I want to be part of the generation that resets the standard for my people. I want us to be seen as innovators and builders not just as athletes. My goal in STEM is to develop and broaden access to new technologies for people in my community. In our community we are told to be consumers of technology and never innovators of it. My hope is to change that by becoming the visible example that the ability to create is not defined by your background or identity. Through mentorship and collaboration with other black organizations, I want to create a space for young students who also want to pursue engineering they can call home. Ultimately I want my impact in STEM to act as an intersection of innovation and representation. Opening doors for people of my color to build, design, solve the problems of tomorrow’s future. By succeeding in this field, I aim to demonstrate that talent and curiosity does not belong to a singular race, it is universal. When opportunity and natural ability aren't given, what does that make you? Are you a hard worker who doesn't allow the environment to mold them or are you someone who blames everything for your failures and shortcomings. My journey in electrical engineering is not just about personal gain; it is about raising the standard and reshaping who gets to participate in shaping the future.

My experience with mental health fundamentally reshaped my beliefs, relationships, and long term aspirations. For much of my life, I dismissed mental health as exaggerated or used as an excuse for a lack of discipline. I believed strength meant pushing through being uncomfortable despite what you may be feeling internally. The belief changed after the sudden passing of my father on January 8, 2024. I convinced myself I was fine and went to school the next day. At the time I didn’t know that my father’s passing created such a tear in my heart and my mind. I never gave myself time to grieve and process that the person that raised me for my entire life is now abruptly gone. I was subconsciously keeping myself busy to avoid facing the reality of the situation. Ordinary environments felt hostile and silence became overwhelming. I couldn't be left alone in rooms because I felt like someone was always staring at me or was about to come to hurt me. I would always try to be around people for as long as I can, never trying to go home. Every corner, every shadow, every movement from the corner of my eye became a battle. It was worse when I went to college, this was the first time I was living by myself away from everyone. It was hell. What a quiet home felt peaceful to most people, was my warzone. All doors, lights and electronics had to be on to prevent myself from entering a panic attack. It all came to a head when my grades started to decline. I questioned mu intelligence, my place at USC, and even my career path in STEM. My mind’s inner voices became more harsh stating I was a failure, dad would be ashamed of you, you don't deserve to be here, you are a disappointment to your mother, everyone hates you. I laid under the covers shivering and crying until I went to sleep. I called my mom and went home for the weekend for the first time since I went to college. I distanced myself from my mom and my home because that is where those senses became its worst. But I figured that mom must be feeling at least a little of what I am feeling so I opened up to her about what I was feeling and she said that it was mental health. She helped me understand that what I was experiencing wasn't me being weak but untreated mental distress. Through therapy, I identified my unhealthy thought patterns and grounded myself when I would enter moments of anxiety or fear. This journey has reshaped my beliefs about strength. Strength isn't just about being strong but being vulnerable and having the ability to seek help. Being honest about my inner struggles deepen my relationship with my mother and God. It allowed me to be connected more authentically than with others. Most importantly I now recognize that if I want to pursue a STEM, sustaining my mental health will lead to long term success. I want to be a leader who creates environments of discipline and mental well being. My journey taught me that success is defined by how much you struggle but how you face the struggle and adapt to it while moving forward.

On January 8th, 2024, my father passed away due to a sudden heart attack. His death not only affected my mother and me, but the entire family. My father was seen as a role model, a man you look up to and say, “I want to be like him.” My relationship with God fell apart after he passed. In the aftermath of his death, my faith was shaken. I struggled to comprehend how God could allow someone so devoted and faithful to Him be taken so abruptly. I was overwhelmed with anger and grief. For the first time, I questioned my faith. I felt spiritually lost during the most painful moment of my life. I confided these emotions to my teacher, who was formerly a pastor. He shared with me that God does not create bad circumstances or events; that is the work of the devil. He does this to turn people away from God and toward him, leading them away from the path God has set for them. Then my teacher said something I would never forget, he said, “God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers and you are one of them.” He pointed out despite my loss, that I had chosen to return to school because I believed I still had work to finish. Those words breathed life back into me. Although I never asked to face these battles, I persevered; guided by my faith. That gave me the energy to finish high school, send my 2nd project to the international space station, get accepted by 23 colleges, enroll into the University of Southern California and walk on to the football team. Currently as a sophomore in college I have continued to excel in my studies and on field, slowly making my way up the depth chart. Looking back at what I have accomplished from that moment is nothing but God and my faith in Him. I don’t know how I would've made it out without Him. It seems like a fairytale how everything got better and better after the lowest moment of my life, it almost doesn't seem real. All I know is that if I don't have my faith I would be lost and not where I am at today. I use my story as a testament to having that faith in God even when it seems darkness is all around you. It may seem like he has abandoned you but he is building up to be something greater. I have been told that my story has helped others with the loss of their family members. They were inspired by how I preserved and created my happy ending. This brings a warm feeling to my heart, a moment in which felt like my destruction bloomed into an inspiring story that is helping others cope and not feel alone. I will continue to share my story and bring glory to God by starving for greatness. Life is like a rollercoaster, when you are going up, you are eventually going to have to come back down. But when you drop the next time you go back up it is way quicker.

On January 8th, 2024, my father passed away due to a sudden heart attack. His death not only affected my mother and me, but the entire family. My father was seen as a role model, a man you look up to and say, “I want to be like him.” My relationship with God fell apart after he passed. In the aftermath of his death, my faith was shaken. I struggled to comprehend how God could allow someone so devoted and faithful to Him be taken so abruptly. I was overwhelmed with anger and grief. For the first time, I questioned my faith. I felt spiritually lost during the most painful moment of my life. I confided these emotions to my teacher, who was formerly a pastor. He shared with me that God does not create bad circumstances or events; that is the work of the devil. He does this to turn people away from God and toward him, leading them away from the path God has set for them. Then my teacher said something I would never forget, he said, “God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers and you are one of them.” He pointed out despite my loss, that I had chosen to return to school because I believed I still had work to finish. Those words breathed life back into me. Although I never asked to face these battles, I persevered; guided by my faith. That gave me the energy to finish high school, send my 2nd project to the international space station, get accepted by 23 colleges, enroll into the University of Southern California and walk on to the football team. Currently as a sophomore in college I have continued to excel in my studies and on field, slowly making my way up the depth chart. Looking back at what I have accomplished from that moment is nothing but God and my faith in Him. I don’t know how I would've made it out without Him. It seems like a fairytale how everything got better and better after the lowest moment of my life, it almost doesn't seem real. All I know is that if I don't have my faith I would be lost and not where I am at today. I use my story as a testament to having that faith in God even when it seems darkness is all around you. It may seem like he has abandoned you but he is building up to be something greater. I have been told that my story has helped others with the loss of their family members. They were inspired by how I preserved and created my happy ending. This brings a warm feeling to my heart, a moment in which felt like my destruction bloomed into an inspiring story that is helping others cope and not feel alone. I will continue to share my story and bring glory to God by starving for greatness. Life is like a rollercoaster, when you are going up, you are eventually going to have to come back down. But when you drop the next time you go back up it is way quicker.

This opportunity is deeply meaningful to me because it represents more than financial support. It represents relief, hope, and the ability to continue pursuing higher education without placing additional strain on my mother. On January 8th, 2024, my father passed away due to a sudden heart attack. His death not only affected my mother and me, but the entire family. My father was seen as a role model, a man you look up to and say, “I want to be like him.” My relationship with God fell apart after he passed. In the aftermath of his death, my faith was shaken. I struggled to comprehend how God could allow someone so devoted and faithful to Him be taken so abruptly. I was overwhelmed with anger and grief. For the first time, I questioned my faith. I felt spiritually lost during the most painful moment of my life. I confided these emotions to my teacher, who was formerly a pastor. He shared with me that God does not create bad circumstances or events; that is the work of the devil. He does this to turn people away from God and toward him, leading them away from the path God has set for them. Then my teacher said something I would never forget, he said, “God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers and you are one of them.” He pointed out despite my loss, that I had chosen to return to school because I believed I still had work to finish. Those words breathed life back into me. Although I never asked to face these battles, I persevered; guided by my faith. That gave me the energy to finish high school, send my 2nd project to the international space station, get accepted by 23 colleges, enroll into the University of Southern California and walk on to the football team. Currently as a sophomore in college I have continued to excel in my studies and on field, slowly making my way up the depth chart. Looking back at what I have accomplished from that moment is nothing but God and my faith in Him. I don’t know how I would've made it out without Him. It seems like a fairytale how everything got better and better after the lowest moment of my life, it almost doesn't seem real. All I know is that if I don't have my faith I would be lost and not where I am at today. I use my story as a testament to having that faith in God even when it seems darkness is all around you. It may seem like he has abandoned you but he is building up to be something greater. I have been told that my story has helped others with the loss of their family members. They were inspired by how I preserved and created my happy ending. This brings a warm feeling to my heart, a moment in which felt like my destruction bloomed into an inspiring story that is helping others cope and not feel alone. I will continue to share my story and bring glory to God by starving for greatness. Life is like a rollercoaster, when you are going up, you are eventually going to have to come back down. But when you drop the next time you go back up it is way quicker.

When someone I care about comes to me for guidance on a major life decision my first response is not to offer advice immediately, but to ask questions. I would ask my close friend whether he is fully prepared to commit and invest all of his effort into the decision he is about to make. I believe that if you are not fully dedicated or genuinely passionate about what you pursue, your decisions will result in unhappiness and always wondering about that other option. The byproducts of that unhappiness and regret include a decrease of performance at work, lack of motivation, resentment towards others and a withdrawal from peers. My close friend needs to make sure that this is what he wants before he decides to commit entirely. If he feels a significant sense of doubt then he should reconsider moving forward. The opportunity may be once in a lifetime, but at this moment, he may not be ready for the responsibilities that come with it. Some people feel as if this is it or it will never come again. Forcing yourself to accept an opportunity before you are ready can be just as harmful if not more than declining it altogether. If you are a hard worker and a person who constantly improves the opportunity will come back again. My journey in STEM has required me to confront the challenge that was both unexpected and deeply personal, a loss of confidence and self esteem. As a student who has always excelled academically, receiving a C and then D on my first round of midterms was shocking and discouraging. What made it worse was that the grades received were from subjects in which I knew that I normally perform great in. Despite the disappointment, I responded by taking initiative. I sought out tutors, scheduled weekly sessions, increased my study hours, and reached out to peers for guidance and insight. After putting in that effort, I expected improvement. I took action and actively went to improve my understanding of those subjects. When I received the same grades again, I felt defeated. I felt like I wasn't smart enough to be with the other kids in that class. On both midterms, I was below the curve, which made me feel as though I was at the bottom of the class. I couldn't understand why through all the work I put in to improve myself I did not succeed. These repeated setbacks left me physically distressed and unmotivated. For the first time, I seriously considered changing majors, believing that electrical engineering might not be meant for me. I turned to my academic advisor and my family about the decision and they did not agree. They explained that the first few classes are designed to plant doubt and test perseverance. For that doubt to work it depends on you to water them and give life to them. Fear is powerful, and if left unchecked, it can cause you to retreat from even minor setbacks. What I needed was to view those grades not as failures, but as lessons on how to improve. STEM challenged me in ways I had never experienced before, but it also forced me to develop resilience, humility and self belief. With the support of my family I was able to regain my self worth and confidence and continue forward with a renewed perspective.

Government officials from the city council to capital members are in attendance. 4.5 million pounds of alloyed metals are propelled into outer orbit at speeds of 7 miles per second. The room roars with cheers, claps, and confetti. I just launched a project into space to be observed by astronauts on the ISS. I was approached by the President of Junipero Serra High School to join a project given by Northrup Gruman. We were tasked to pick a project that was to be sent to the International Space Station. Out of 12 schools in the entire United States, Serra would be one of those schools to do this project. I felt honored that I was chosen out of the other 400 students that attended Serra but I didn’t know anything. I thought about how I was going to be able to contribute to such a massive project without any prior knowledge of electronic functions or mechanical mechanisms. I believed that this was too far out of my league and I should deny the request for my involvement, but I said “Yes.” At our first ISSP meeting, we discussed what the project should be about. Many topics were discussed, such as bacteria growth in microgravity, protein crystallization growth, etc. After rounds of elimination based on safety, cost, etc, our final decision for the project was seed germination. The reason we settled on seed germination is because it will lower the cost of space trips and possibly expand humanity beyond Earth. To send a pound of food and water into space it will cost approximately between $9,000 to $18,000. Figuring out how to grow food in microgravity is very difficult simply because of the lack of gravity and light. Without gravity, the water can’t be absorbed into the plant's roots, and without ample light, plants can’t photosynthesize. Though our project is small and will not be growing any potatoes, it will give astronauts and scientists a clue on how to grow food in space. This whole project took 7 months to build. Every day after school, our team would meet in the lab to build and test the seed germination tube. Many components of the project had been split up into 5 sections. The section I had to work with was the current of electricity across the circuit board. I was given resistors, light-emitting diodes ( LEDs), and breadboards to figure out how much power we needed to grow the plant. In working out the power we needed I blew a lot of LEDs and broke the resistors. After working on the project, I would watch YouTube tutorials on how to read resistors and connect power from the positive side of the board to the negative side of the board. I soon grasped the concept and figured out how to connect alternating currents to direct currents.       After the project was finished, we were recognized by the city of Gardena and the California Senate for our work. We were awarded certificates of acknowledgment. We met with news TV stations who covered our project and interviewed us. Meeting high-ranking officials within and outside of my community put into perspective how big this project truly was. These seven months proved to me my adaptability to a constantly changing issue. At the start of the project, I believed this was out of my league. Despite that, I completed the project and excelled in electrical engineering which I didn’t think I could do. Looking back at the time I spent building the project before school and after school, made me feel a sense of accomplishment and pride.

My dad passed away on January 8th, 2024. There was nothing wrong with him, he wouldn’t tell if it was anyway. He collapsed in my arms in front of my grandma’s house. All the close hospitals were full and they had to take him to a hospital far away. By the time they made it there, it was too late. I didn’t know what to think or do. I couldn’t blame anybody, couldn’t find a reason and I couldn’t hide. Seeing his body that was just full on life a couple of hours ago, now fully emptied of it. The moment didn’t feel real, it was like I was in a dream or a movie. Any second I was just expecting him to wake up but that second never came. He devoted his life to God but after this, I couldn’t do the same. He took the man who feared and preached his name from a son who was going to make it big academically and athletically. Why didn’t God take those thugs, gangsters, drug-addicted, alcohol addicted? All they do is take lives and make other's lives miserable, it would make sense to take them, they serve no purpose other than to take up space. That is what I thought all of January and February. No one could tell me different. It wasn’t until recently that I fully went back to God and realized his glory. Though it may be tough for me to think about, I think his passing was needed for me to continue whatever mission I set out to do by God. On the day of his funeral, my football team came out and gave their support. Everyone knew my dad because he was the loudest in the stands, complaining about the playcalling and rooting us on. His presence was felt. My dad loved that I played football and that I started varsity this year. He saw me get my first offer from the University of La Verne. Just that offer alone made him so happy. He was shining the whole week. Now I am heading to the University of Southern California on many scholarships and as a preferred walk-on for the football team. He never got to see this happen in motion but I believe in Heaven he made it happen. He opened their ears and let the words that carry my name seep in. The way I have envisioned myself paying it forward and conquering the devil’s plan for me to fall is to do what my dad always told me. Stay hungry and be great. Very simple. He knew I did”t need much to motivate me. In his memory when I step on the USC football field for summer, I will dominate and work my way to the top. They said they needed me to play center or guard. Positions I am well versed in. Those hours me and my dad spent at the park, training will never go to waste. I am a beast awoken who has his eyes set out for nothing but success.

The most influential person in my life would be my parents. My mom is a warrior and a teacher. When times get tough and the stress becomes too much, my mom is there to guide me and give me a solution. She is my foundation and my reason why I want to college. She always believed that I could do anything that I could put my mind to. Now I look back, and I see why she always got on me when I brought home bad grades or a report on bad behavior. She knew I could do better. When I started to put effort into my work I received better results. I became a straight-A student. She taught me to give 100% in anything I do and never quit. My mom told me, “Quitting is admitting that the objective overpowered you and you couldn’t handle it. You failed to work around the problem and you let it take hold of you. You are Travis Leonard, no challenge can overpower your desire for success.” This was the warrior side of my mom. She always says these speeches and phrases right when I need to hear them. It is like she adds gasoline to a fire that is lit beneath me, causing it to surge into a great flame that can't be put out. These words changed my mentality towards everything I did. I strived to produce quality work that would earn nothing but an A+. This behavior has been instilled throughout my school career and I have to thank my mom for it. My dad is a builder and a provider. He introduced me to Christianity which I follow to this day. He would take me to Church every day, where I could hear the stories of Jesus Christ and witness the miracles that he can perform. Afterwards we would have bible study about what verses and chapters we read while in Church. This was to ensure that I understood what was being taught. He wanted the Holy Spirit to resonate within me not forced as a part of my being. He constructed how I view the world. He never saw things in black and white but instead the cause and actions of what happened. Every action has its opposite reaction. Make bad decisions, and live with the consequences. Through this, I was able to build my moral code on what I deemed acceptable and pass the line. From these simple actions, I became more mentally mature. I could express how I was feeling and have plans in place to deal with my daily issues. I lifted them to God. Though my Dad's passing this year has damaged my relationship with God, I already feel the gap starting to heal. It is the understanding that God called him home and he couldn't ignore the call. I will never forget his teachings and I will pass them on to my kids when I get older.