My mother has taught me strong moral values, personal responsibility, and honesty throughout my life. Through her I have learned compassion and respect for others. Additionally, she instilled in me the importance of hard work. As a result, I am number ten out of two hundred fifty students. I work hard and take pride in my educational accomplishments. My mother is a single mom who works two jobs in order to provide for us. My father has never been in the picture physically or financially. On a single income, the odds were stacked against us. With a teacher's salary, it has been impossible for her to save for college. The hurdles of everyday expenses, the rising cost of housing, underpaid teachers, health care, and all that life entails. But, she taught me that perseverance and determination can make dreams come true. So, I applied those skills in high school. I consider am a leader. I was swarded Junior Rotarian my senior year. I have participated in many programs and activities that will shape my future. The robotics program has been the most influential program for me. It was here that I developed the skills to be a successful leader. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) leadership centers around complementary characteristics, including the ability to lead. I am forward-thinking and continuously researching emerging technology, and networks with other experts to stay ahead of opportunities. I have been accepted to TAMU in the fall of 2024. I will be part of the engineering department where I plan to major in biomedical engineering. I would love to be part of a company that designs and builds prosthetics. I am also interested in DNA and how medical science can vastly improve and prolong lives. There are many possibilities where I can use my education to help disabled or people needing new medical trials to survive. With AI the world has advanced leaps and bounds; especially in the United States. Yet, there is still so much to be done. I want to be a part of that world. I want to make a difference. I want to teach my future children that giving back to society is the key essential ingredient to the survival of humans. I am confident i can obtain the skills I need to be successful at Texas A&M University. I am excited to learn as much as possible and look forward to my future.

My name is Zach Reagan and I am a high school senior at Palestine High School in East Texas. Being raised by a single mom has been a blessing for me. She dedicated her life to raising. She was required to play the role of mother and father. Not an easy task, I am sure. Having her as a role model taught me the importance of taking responsibility, working hard, and not allowing myself to be a victim. My mom is a highly respected educator; therefore I know the importance of education. I am a member of my high school's Student Council, Interact Club, and Fellow Christian Athletes. We dedicate a lot of our time doing community service. Cancer research, animal control and protection, serving the homeless, and much more. I participate in varsity football player and discus throw. I have been recognized as "Player of the Week" and won first place in the district for discus throw as a Junior. I am also very proud to be in the Top Ten of my class out of two hundred fifty students. I am enrolled in all honors classes and take dual credit classes from two different colleges. I work hard to get good grades. I am a Christian and my faith is important I have been accepted into Texas A&M's engineering program for the fall of 2024. I am excited to pursue my dream in engineering. I am currently working after school to save money to help pay my way through college. My high school offers jobs to students like myself to work on student and staff technology. I also tutor students in math and science. I have been involved in STEM since I was in grade school. My fourth-grade teacher, Mr. Buell, introduced me to Robotics and I have been hooked ever since. As a nine-year-old, I was awarded first place at the Invention Convention in district and area competitions. I have been actively involved as the engineer of design for our robots and also as the driver over a period of years. Our team has won the Design Award two times in the past four years. Science and math have always come easy to me. I love doing labs and formulating new possible outcomes. I have toyed with the idea of working in the field of biomedical robotic prostheses to help people. I also like the idea of robotic surgery and robotic space endeavors. I am still in the process of discovering exactly where my love of math and science will take me. The future is exciting to me and I hope that my career path provides me with the opportunity to help others.

My mother has taught me strong moral values, personal responsibility, honesty, and trust throughout my life. Through her, I have learned compassion and respect for others. She taught me how to laugh and have fun. Additionally, she instilled in me the importance of hard work. As a result, I am number ten out of a class of two hundred fifty students. I work hard and take pride in my educational accomplishments. As I look back on the memories, I have shared with my mother so far, I know they are forever and will have a positive impact on my life. She is a single mom who works two jobs in order to provide for us. My father has never been in the picture physically or financially. My mother has been the sole provider for us. On a single income, the odds were stacked against us. With a teacher's salary, it has been impossible for her to save for college. The hurdles of everyday expenses, the rising cost of housing, underpaid teachers, health care, and all that life entails. Over the course of my high school career, I have participated in many programs and activities that will shape my future. Palestine High School's robotics program has been the most influential program for me. It was here that I developed the skills to be a successful leader. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) leadership typically centers around complementary characteristics, including the ability to lead the team. Progress is important. There is no room for stagnation. I am a forward-thinking, insight-driven leader who continuously researches emerging technology, and networks with other experts to stay ahead of opportunities. I have learned all these leadership skills over the many years that I have been involved in Palestine’s robotic classes. One of my greatest leadership roles on the robotics team began during my freshman year. As a result of my previous involvement in robotics, my innovative thinking, and problem-solving skills helped create my team leader status. I was responsible for teaching others how the electrical system operates and understanding that things change as the design evolves. I learned how to delegate authority by selecting skilled individuals from our team to lead our three groups: the Program Team, the Electrical Team, and the Building Team. I also assumed the role of driver because of my experience, composure, and knowledge. Palestine does not allocate a lot of money to the robotics team; therefore, it is a challenge to keep up with larger school districts, but it pushes me to really stretch my skills. We won the Design Award two years in a row. My excitement continues to grow as I enter my senior year. I have been given a taste of what learning should be like by my teachers, coaches, and counselors, and I am eager to learn more. I am excited about college and all the experiences to come. As I look forward, I can see a glimpse of my future. For the first time, I am excited to learn as much as possible and experience all that life has to offer me. I am anxious to begin a career in a field that I am passionate about. My high school years have been pivotal to my development. As I prepare for college, I have a deeper understanding of its importance and am looking forward to a bright future

Leadership It is important for a leader to possess several qualities that enable them to effectively guide and inspire others. Leadership requires the following qualities: integrity, humility, courage, respect, empathy, gratitude, effective communication, and delegation. I am grateful to have had mentors who have taught me these skills. I was raised by a single mom. My father has never been in the picture. She is a public school teacher who taught me the value of education and hard work. She deserves credit for molding me into the successful student and citizen I am today. As a high school student, I have participated in numerous activities and programs that will have a lasting impact on my life. The robotics program has been the most influential. My experience in this class taught me how to be a strong and successful leader. Steve Jobs, a very accomplished entrepreneur from Apple once said, "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." One aspect of leadership I learned centered around the idea that leadership is constantly evolving. Effective leaders must strive to improve their decision-making process in light of AI and machine-learning technology development. In order to be a successful leader, I needed to remain fluid and adaptable to my ideas. My innovative thinking landed me in leadership positions immediately. As a PLTW engineering student, I learned to adopt a problem-solving mindset. I lead a robotics team that engages in compelling, real-world challenges that help us become better communicators and analysts. It is my job as their leader to ensure we are prepared for any situation that might arise at competitions. We compete in VEX Robotics Competitions yearly. One of my greatest leadership responsibilities on the robotics team began during my freshman year. I was tasked with reinventing the previous robot. I accepted the challenge and with help from our team, we rebuilt our robot to be more agile and easier to maneuver. I hope my leadership has made a difference in their future robotic engineering endeavors. I have been actively involved in many school organizations. In the Interact Club, our focus is on community service. I often lead projects raising money for our community. In October I am in charge of the “Paint Palestine Pink” marathon to raise money for breast cancer. As a member of the Student Council, I have led several functions to raise funds for our school. In the Fellow Christian Athletes organization (FCA), our attention is on positive leadership. I became a member of the National Honor Society by demonstrating exceptional leadership in grades, community service, and behavior. Our motto is: "Lead by Example". I also participate in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) where leadership generally focuses on interrelated traits, including team leadership. Their goal is to develop leaders who take responsibility for their successes and failures. I am in the Top Ten of my class out of two hundred fifty students. I have also been accepted to Texas A&M University and its Engineering Department for the fall of 2024. Outside of school, one of our church’s deacons trained me on how to operate the technology equipment during services and special events. I am also a member of the youth group. Leaders have a vision and a plan for achieving it. “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” - John C. Maxwell. Dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to compromise are all strong attributes to succeed. I am confident that I have the drive, initiative, curiosity, and diversity of experience to continue as a leader throughout my life.

My mother has taught me strong moral values, personal responsibility, honesty, and trust throughout my life. Through her, I have learned compassion and respect for others. She taught me how to laugh and have fun. Additionally, she instilled in me the importance of hard work. As a result, I am number ten out of a class of two hundred fifty students. I work hard and take pride in my educational accomplishments. As I look back on the memories, I have shared with my mother so far, I know they are forever and will have a positive impact on my life. She is a single mom who works two jobs in order to provide for us. My father has never been in the picture physically or financially. My mother has been the sole provider for us. On a single income, the odds were stacked against us. With a teacher's salary, it has been impossible for her to save for college. The hurdles of everyday expenses, the rising cost of housing, underpaid teachers, health care, and all that life entails. Over the course of my high school career, I have participated in many programs and activities that will shape my future. Palestine High School's robotics program has been the most influential program for me. It was here that I developed the skills to be a successful leader. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) leadership typically centers around complementary characteristics, including the ability to lead the team. Progress is important. There is no room for stagnation. I am a forward-thinking, insight-driven leader who continuously researches emerging technology, and networks with other experts to stay ahead of opportunities. I have learned all these leadership skills over the many years that I have been involved in Palestine’s robotic classes. One of my greatest leadership roles on the robotics team began during my freshman year. As a result of my previous involvement in robotics, my innovative thinking, and problem-solving skills helped create my team leader status. I was responsible for teaching others how the electrical system operates and understanding that things change as the design evolves. I learned how to delegate authority by selecting skilled individuals from our team to lead our three groups: the Program Team, the Electrical Team, and the Building Team. I also assumed the role of driver because of my experience, composure, and knowledge. Palestine does not allocate a lot of money to the robotics team; therefore, it is a challenge to keep up with larger school districts, but it pushes me to really stretch my skills. We won the Design Award two years in a row. My excitement continues to grow as I enter my senior year. I have been given a taste of what learning should be like by my teachers, coaches, and counselors, and I am eager to learn more. I am excited about college and all the experiences to come. As I look forward, I can see a glimpse of my future. For the first time, I am excited to learn as much as possible and experience all that life has to offer me. I am anxious to begin a career in a field that I am passionate about. My high school years have been pivotal to my development. As I prepare for college, I have a deeper understanding of its importance and am looking forward to a bright future.