My goal is to be the kind of engineer that increases the efficiency of systems while decreasing the carbon footprint of humankind. Being able to not only minimize waste but to then reuse the waste byproducts has become a keen interest of mine. I've had conversations with engineers in my family who pointed out the self-sustaining mechanical systems at some of the campsites we've visited. This way of solving challenges inspires me, and I’d love to learn to create similar systems. However, I would also love to travel while I work, therefore I wish to be an engineer that works on projects around the world for months at a time if necessary. Since I live in a densely populated city, Las Vegas, I’ve seen the effects of carbon emissions firsthand. It leads me to believe that humanity's best interest is to prioritize the problem of climate change. While improving green energy technology is one way to tackle the problem, we are years away from having the technology at the scale we need. By the time humanity is fully able to support itself with green renewable energy, the damage to Earth would be irreparable. The answer, in my eyes, is carbon sequestration. Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. By developing efficient carbon sequestration methods, I could help give humanity more time to develop a sustainable approach to energy. Carbon sequestration does not eliminate the necessity for renewable energy, rather, it bridges our need to reduce our carbon footprint now, while giving us time to resolve the challenges that come with going green. Additionally, it has the added bonus of being a technology that would not get much pushback from mega-corporations against the idea of going green. Efficient systems and technological feasibility are the keys to ensuring humanity’s future, as well as the future of engineering. With carbon sequestration, I believe we can safely ease humanity into using sustainable energy while preserving the greatest source of technological inspiration, planet Earth. With at least four years of university under my belt, I believe I can push for more research into ecologically-friendly engineering around the world while also showcasing its benefits. By not only convincing the US, but other countries, I firmly believe that humanity can change. It is possible to go from the large levels of pollution I've seen firsthand in big cities like Las Vegas to an almost science-fiction world of sustainability

With clear blue skies, little wind, and a pleasant temperature, the day was almost too perfect. I was about nine years old and had been playing golf for a couple of years now. With multiple tournaments on my resume, I'd learned that I could play well, but there was always tough competition. And his name was Avery. Being just about half a year older than me, we almost always played in the same age group at all of our tournaments. Every time I played with Avery, he scored better than me. Since the beginning, I'd always been very competitive, so this got on my nerves. All I wanted was to be able to beat him. And that day was the greatest opportunity I had. It was a 9-hole game since we were junior golfers. Usually, Avery would slowly trickle ahead by creating a gap in our scores one or two strokes at a time. This time, I kept up. We had been neck and neck until hole 6. This marked the point where I changed things, where I broke free. I teed off first, playing my ball right in the middle of the fairway about 30 yards from the hole, an ideal shot. Avery went next, cutting the ball into the trees. I had a chance! I watched Avery take a couple more swings to make it back into play. After finishing the hole, I'd gained a lead of a few strokes. I was feeling confident. The thing about confidence, it's a slippery slope. I was in over my head going into the next hole. My grin bore from ear to ear. Avery, while obviously disappointed, did not falter in his actions. He stayed calm and composed. Teeing off, I swung with all the confidence in my existence and chunked it. Avery played a well-placed ball. I felt I could fix my mistake and keep myself in the lead, but after my next swing, I was in the trees. I'd started to feel the pressure. I looked ahead at a cascade of trees towards the green. In this time of crisis, I needed to go for it. My chances were low, but my aspirations were higher. After I swung, the ball dropped out of the leaves, just like my confidence and happiness. Swing after swing, I couldn't escape. The world had cursed me to lose this chance. In reality, it was a blessing for the growth of my maturity. After holing out, I bawled my face off. My own mental game had gone from skyrocketing to rock bottom. Reminiscing now, I'm positive my mom had to be so embarrassed with me crying in front of everyone. Avery even came to me and gave me words of encouragement. He showed true sportsmanship throughout it all. Playing the rest of the game out, Avery won again, but I gained an exceptional life lesson. From then on, even with my immensely competitive spirit, I did my best to stay humble and focus on my actions. Being so wrapped up in somebody else only leads to your own mind unraveling. Focusing on myself was the key. I couldn't get too overconfident. I needed to stay focused in times of need. Applying this to every aspect of my life, I learned to excel. At school, I held consistent straight A's. At home, I spent lots of time enjoying activities with my family. I even gained a lot of friends. I plan to continue this through university, career, and retirement. I'll always keep myself in check.