My name is Joshua Raya, and I am a senior at America's Highschool in El Paso, Texas. Ever since I was a toddler, I had an early fascination with technology, robotics, and computers. Once I got to middle school, I did not know what type of STEM or A/E/C major I wanted to pursue but I knew that this field was where I wanted to be. During my discovery of the A/E/C industry, I was always good with Math and horrible with Language Arts. Moreover, having math as one of my strengths and having the ambition towards pursuing a degree in the A/E/C industry just made my path toward the Engineering industry become a real possibility. I only took three total classes in middle school, Introduction to PLTW, Computer Programming, and Gateway to Technology. Those three classes were my first engineering classes, and it has ensured my position in pursuing engineering in high school, college, and life. But I still needed to find the specific engineering major that I would continue to study. Now coming into high school, I was set and stone with what I wanted to pursue once I graduated: Mechanical Engineering. Why? Because it was a major that wasn't specialized in one area of engineering. Mechanical engineering would be a major where I would learn every bit of everything in all the specialized fields of engineering. But there was the fear of the unknown whether I chose Aerospace Engineering or Chemical Engineering that it would be something I wouldn't enjoy doing or have expected to understand once I went to college. So, I stuck with this decision to this day. However, throughout my middle school and high school career I wasn't as involved in STEM clubs or any organizations as many other students because my priorities were on baseball. I always wanted to play at a high level in baseball and pursue my engineering ambitions as well, but it was harder than I thought. Now when I look back at it, I wish I would have put more effort into putting engineering over sports than the other way around in middle school and early high school. I didn't even join the robotics team at my school until last semester and I met a bunch of brilliant and creative minds. It was so fun building our robot and making just the wheels turn would put a smile on my face and make me feel that we can win any competition no matter how our robot looked compared to others. Even when we had to brainstorm solutions to our problems, it was so much fun. I remember nothing but great times that I shared with the other talented and determined students that I worked with. Overall, the reason I want to pursue the A/E/C industry is that I can't imagine myself in any other field. Engineering suits me and I have the grit and work ethic to become better than the engineer I was yesterday. Because I have come to realize with the experience I had in robotics, I have the willingness to fail and make mistakes because I love this field. I love it so much that I want to work hard in it, stress in it, succeed in it, and fail in it because my heart and soul are built for engineering.

The one administrator that had the biggest impact on my life was my Secretary of State during one of my National Hispanic Institute events. In the summer of 2021, I attended an event called the Lorenzo De Zavala Youth Legislative Session or the LDZ for short. It was sponsored and held by an ethnic based organization called the National Hispanic Institute where they train young Latino minds to exercise and improve their leadership skills through networking, debate, and campaigning along with the understanding of how to contribute to the Latinx community or any community for that matter. On the first official day of the event, we had a total of over 150 participants and stood up for our "Secretary of State" that was nominated for the event, and he was the most professional college student I have ever student. For two whole days, he put on a mean and intimidatingly façade along with a harsh commentary. He was a jerk but still would somehow know when to encourage all the participants during our stressful periods. One of his best endings to his speeches before he sent us off to our assignments was "Delegates, do NOT make decisions out of fear. For the only reward that will come will be regret.". He then hit his gable onto the stand and sent us off. On the second day, I bumped into him in the restroom as I was washing my hands and I had one question on my mind after his speech. I said, "Excuse me, Secretary." He replied, "Hello delegate how is it going?". " Good sir, I was wondering if I can ask you a question" I asked. He let me ask him as we were grabbing paper towels to dry our hands which was " Why are you so motivated to help out this community and what has allowed you to stay motivated and inspired throughout the process?". His answer was simple, and he said it was everybody that motivated him and what he wanted to do. He said that everybody motivates him that there are kids that rely on this experience to make a difference back home, that there are families that invested so much into this program that need him to show them what they are diving into, and that he has met so many great people, relationships, and connections throughout the process that has motivated him and that kept him attached. From that conversation alone, I changed my perspective on how I do things and how I remind myself why I do everything I do in and out of the classroom. I came back home from that event thinking of how much I can accomplish with what I learned and how my secretary’s words will drive me to make decisions that I won't question ever again. He is someone I want to become and be just as successful. He alone changed my life and the way I intend to pursue my career and future.

The STEM major that I intend to pursue in college will be mechanical engineering. For the longest time, I wanted to be an engineer, but I did not want to be a one field type engineer. For illustration, Aerospace, Civil, and Chemical engineering specialize in a certain field of study but when it comes to mechanical engineering it does not necessarily specialize into one area in the engineering field. Mechanical engineering knowledge can be used in electronics, computers, mechanical machines, robotics, electrical, and goes into a bunch of more components than any other area of engineering. As the end of my junior year started approaching, I needed to make a final decision on what type of field of engineering I wanted to pursue in college so that I can pick a major for my college application. At first, I wanted to go into Aerospace at first because of the average salary that Aerospace engineers earned was the salary that I wanted ideally as an engineer. However, during that year I took AP Physics, and it was the hardest course I have taken in my four years of high school so far. I passed the class and understood some basic and early concepts of physics but as it got progressively harder, I realized that Aerospace specializes in physics so I thought if I struggled with the AP course of physics how would I continue my Aerospace career throughout college and survive. Don't get me wrong I love engineering and I am prepared to struggle with it in college, but I think that the Aerospace field wasn't the best possible fit I could find for myself. Soon enough, my teacher went over the different types of engineering my senior year and discussed how he got a master's in mechanical engineering and how you understand the basics of engineering, electrical engineering, mechanics of machines, and what you learn in this field can allow you to adapt to other fields of engineering much easier. Since then, I have applied to all the colleges I wanted to apply for have been under the mechanical engineering major. That is why I decided to pursue mechanical engineering.

I am passionate about engineering because it is the only field of study that I can see myself enjoy until I retire. As long as I can remember, I was so fascinated at the ideas of building robots, working with computers, analyzing blueprints, and turn sketch on paper to something real. It wasn't until seventh grade where my interest in engineering and the STEM field grew. I was in Computer Science and understood how to code, 3D-model and print, be introduced to VEX parts, and make relationships with other students in the class based on similar interests. After having all that in my seventh grade year, I kept electing computer and STEM classes into my schedules all the way into my senior year and I have enjoyed every single class I have taken so far. During all of these years, I have struggled, failed assignments, and stressed myself out on understanding the subject myself. But as I take a step back now that I am a senior in high school, that made me realized that I enjoy engineering so much that I am willing to struggle and fail. That just as I am willing to succeed, learn, understand, and grow, that I am willing to struggle, fail, fall back, and stress about it just as much. That is why after so much experience, relationships, and the different teachers that have taught me what I know today has made me want to live the rest of my life with engineering in it.

I love math because of how it influences every single field of study and how it is precepted by students. To begin with, I am sure that once in everybody's life in some math class the teacher has asked or been a question on a test, " How has math affected your daily life?" or "Describe one way you use math in your daily life". I am sure the answer just needs a few minutes to be analyzed and give a student minimum depth of thinking. But, what I never thought of until I started pursuing my endorsement, engineering, throughout my high school career was how much math is around us and how its been with us with everything. For example, Science is one of the fields of study that utilizes math exponentially and has number calculations so that it may prove and further studies or problems. With Language Arts, there are an abundance of concepts that use numbers. Syllables, fonts sizing's, spacing, annotating, and so much more concepts of that field that use numbers. Cosmetology, cooking, architecture, theatre, finance, film, doctors, construction, and even time itself uses numbers! Arguably, I believe every single major, minor, and career follows with numbers in some type of way no matter how simple or complex it is used. Next, one of the things I love about math is how it affects the perception of students. When students think of a smart person or student solving a problem, they will probably think of numbers or equations. In movies, most of the smartest minds and movies revolve around numbers, the universe, physics, and long equations that look like aliens wrote them. Even as a student myself who loves, I feel so prideful after getting a good grade on a math exam, assignment, or problem itself that I don't feel in any other way when I solve problems in my other courses. This is why I love math so much and it has made me pursue a career in it as well!

My name is Joshua Raya and I live in El Paso, Texas and play for America's High School Varsity baseball team. We are a 6A high school and next year we will be moving down to 5A based on our student population. Last year, as a first-year varsity member, we made it to the playoffs as District Champions, Bi-District Champions against San Angelo High School; however, lost the Area Round against the #1 team in Texas that would eventually go on to win the Texas 6A State Championship, Southlake Carrol However, it is our goal to make it to Round Rock and compete for a State Championship this year! I love baseball because the numbers and mental adversity that it holds does not compare to any other sport in the world. When it comes to numbers Ted Williams once said, "Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer", which is true. Out of 10 at bats, if you just get on base or get a hit three times out of ten, you are considered a great baseball player which comes to show that baseball is a game of failure. In other sports such as basketball and football, there's the "perfect shot" or the "perfect throw" and they call it the perfect shot and throw because the ball will always hit where you want it. In baseball, you can hit the ball perfectly and still get out. A pitcher can perfectly pitch the ball in the perfect spot where the catcher wants it and still give up a homerun or base knock. When it comes to the mental adversity of the game, your grit will tested throughout your entire baseball career. What I love about baseball too is that everybody will go through a slump just like how everybody will be hot in their bats and performance. But when it comes to the slumps, that is when as a baseball player if you want to get better then you will have to put in the work ; that instead of complaining of what's not going right for you, do something and pick up that glove or bat and work on what you need to work on. One of the best examples is Reggie Jackson. Jackson has been recorded to have the most strikeouts as a batter in MLB history but yet awarded two Silver Slugger Awards, awarded the American League MVP in 1973, was awarded the World Series MVP and Babe Ruth MVP in the same year of 1977, and in the end became a Hall of Famer. Having all of this in perspective about the mental adversity and numbers game of baseball, that is why I love it so much. Now, I am a Dodgers fan, and I couldn't believe that they had the most recorded wins the 2022 regular season but didn't make it past the National League Division Series. I love the Dodgers because I was raised into a Dodgers family, and I love seeing other teams play but I enjoy seeing the entire Dodger's lineup full of high-paid studs. However, my favorite player of all-time would-be Rickey Henderson. I am one of the fastest on my high school teams and all my other summer teams and I always compare my speed to his and feel like I was always as fast as him. With him being an outfielder during his career as well made me have an affinity and motivation to be just like him.

My future plans for my education is to obtain a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and come back to El Paso where I grew up in to give back to my community. After high school, I plan to get accepted and admitted into a prestigious university such as Vanderbilt University, Cornell University, Brown University, or UT-Austin so that I may get my bachelor's degree in one of these schools. Next, I plan to come back to El Paso and transfer to the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and graduate with my master’s from one of the top engineering programs in the United States. My career goals when it comes to mechanical engineering is to settle down here in El Paso and find a firm or industry that specializes in giving back to the community. Being a part of an abundance of extracurricular activities both in and out of school have developed my character into finding comfort of helping a family, friend, or neighbor. This is most certain because to show that I am a good investment for this scholarship and being eligible for it, I would have to be well enveloped into my community and my activities that allow me to create opportunity for my city and Latino community. Although it is not definite of what industry or company I intend to go into, I also want to create a digital app that allows communities, businesses, schools, and people themselves to share and transfer information of dates and times in their calendar. Although I cannot go much into it, I can enhance my knowledge about computer programming and engineering with the help of this scholarship for when I go into college so that I may achieve my career goals. That is my plan.

The area of tech that I am interested in studying is Computer Programming. Since freshman year, I had no exact idea of what I wanted to become but I knew that it was right for me to go into the STEM field hoping to find my passion that I would hope to continue after high school and college. At first, I wanted to become a hands-on engineer but since Covid hit and restricted the tactile experience in my engineering class, we had to resort to digital platforms. Once my class hit the unit of computer programming, I was fascinated and very skilled in breaking down the code of a program. I felt like a spy in one of those movies that hack into the security base or typing super-fast to beat the clock. But of course, we were just learning how to move a turtle left and right. Since then, I wanted to become a part of the tech industry and find a well-paid job that I can enjoy at the same time. Recently, one of the problems that I hope to solve is time management and confusion with families and businesses putting together their calendar. During my summer baseball season, I noticed that it would take my dad hours to input all the dates for my baseball games along with the flight times, check in's and check out's, time to arrive at the field, and other actions that we needed to follow throughout the day. So, I thought, what if I can create an app that can allow people to download their dates and times with a simple click of a button or with a simple QR code? At first, I believed that a program like that already existed, but I took the time to research any similar apps that executed the same goal as mine, but I found none. I intend to build this platform during my time in college and have a better grasp on how to showcase my app and how to get it out there. That is why my interest in the tech industry and my passion of computer programming align with this app that I intend to maximize its full potential with through my education in college. If I get this scholarship, it would be an investment for not just me as a student, but for a future that will have a new way of sharing information of dates and times faster and easier.