My goal after college is to be able to write useful computer programs using logic and reason to solve challenging engineering problems.

`I have been preparing myself for years to become an engineer. Since childhood, I have helped my dad do repairs on our cars. A very educational and challenging project that I completed was my Eagle Scout project. In order to become an Eagle Scout I had to manage and construct a lasting structure for a non-profit community organization. I built two play houses for the preschool at my church. I designed the houses, raised funds to build the houses, and managed a workforce made up of my family, friends, and other members of my troop. I learned how to use Excel to track finances and hours and how to use CAD to create to-scale designs of the houses.

Another key step in preparing to become an engineer was taking AP Physics in high school. I learned how to calculate specific details about the world around me. My education so far has included valuable things like how to calculate the current in a circuit and test the horsepower of a human body. One of the most interesting tasks I completed in AP Physics was building my own boat out of small wooden sticks and butcher paper and rowing it across the school's pool.

Math has always been one of my favorite subjects. I realize how critical it is to have a thorough understanding of mathematics as well as using it to model the world around us. I am currently in AP BC Calculus, the most difficult math course offered at my high school. For one project, I had to create a three dimensional object by first drawing curves and lines on graph paper and then rotating them around an axis to create a solid. I decided to create two solids, a penguin and an igloo. It was a great feeling to see the object take shape as I constructed it using 1/4" slices of foam board. The final product had 86 slices and I received the grade of an A on it.

Part of my development as a student has included visiting various foreign countries. I have traveled to Ireland, England, Australia, and Mexico, as well as different states within the U.S. Seeing these different cultures has provided me with a unique worldview. I enjoy observing and interacting with new cultures because it highlights how people can be very different while still sharing the same interests and goals.

Throughout the course of high school, I have experienced many life lessons that I apply to my life. Boy Scouts, football, wrestling, and church have taught me to never quit even though something may be difficult or challenging. Maintaining high grades in advanced courses has proven that working hard can be rewarding and that planning ahead is vital to success. My love for math and physics, as well as my character, is the door to success in my life and a great college education is the key.