I'm a builder. I'm a creative. I'm a problem solver. Around the seventh grade, I found programming as an outlet for these interests. I kept playing around. Over the years, I'd learn to program by building little projects. When the Covid pandemic shut down most of the world, I found myself with even more free time than usual. I used this as an opportunity to dive deep into the passion I'd always had for programming. Up until this point, I had started many projects and learned so much, yet I never took any of them to completion. Building and completing a full project is exactly what I wanted to do. I found myself with a lot of free time on my hands, and I had just recently run into a problem I wanted to solve. With the release of iOS 14, Apple added home screen widgets to the iPhone. I really wanted YouTube widgets, but the native YouTube app didn't support them. The timing was perfect. So, I got to work building what Google refused to build. From this idea, WidgeTube was born. It took many months, working outside of school and sports, but eventually, I would release WidgeTube in May of 2021. I find a certain appeal to the struggle of programming. After hours of debugging, nothing beats the feeling of seeing what you build work. It is similar to the feeling I get as a running back when scoring a touchdown after a long drive down the football field. All of that is why I'm here, writing this essay from my dorm at MIT while pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. In around 3.5 years when do get this degree, I want to build things that can make an impact on millions of people. WidgeTube has been downloaded by thousands, but I know, with the right project, I can make a positive impact on so many people, whether that is as a part of a big tech company or a small startup. I hesitate to directly say "I am the best candidate to receive this scholarship". Why? I know there will be so many other applicants who are also very qualified. I have no way of knowing that I am the best candidate. But, what I will say is that I have a deep passion for computer science. I have seen the impact that some of my projects have had on those around me. This scholarship would help me focus on continuing to grow my skills in computer science without having to worry so much about the cost of facilitating my passion to learn and grow as a student and an engineer.

I cannot name just one person or thing that has inspired me on my journey through high school. I have always taken pride in the fact that I am incredibly well rounded and because of that I take inspiration from many different areas. I always strive to be the best I can at everything I do, this comes from the encouragement of my family, coaches, and teachers. In the classroom, I am constantly inspired by my teachers who encourage me to push the limits of my knowledge. Specifically, my engineering teacher, Mr. Goli. He has greatly encouraged me to pursue the fields of engineering and computer science. Engineering is by far my favorite class. I love working with the 3D printers one day and programming an algorithm the next. I am extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to continue pursuing my passion for engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where I will also be a student athlete. Athletics is another important part of my life. For me much of my inspiration comes from my dad. He was a football walk-on at Auburn University. I have always dreamed of playing collegiate football like him and I am so grateful to have that opportunity. He has inspired me to work incredibly hard for any goal I set my mind on. As a walk-on, nothing was easy for him and he has taught many of the lessons he learned from that experience to me. At the same time, much of my inspiration comes from within. While you can compare yourself to others all you want, everything boils down to what you put into it. Working hard in the weight room produces a stronger more built body, studying in the classroom results in higher test scores, perfecting form ensures faster times in a sprint. I am the type of person who is always trying to improve and the inspiration for that comes both from the goal of where I want to be, but also seeing how far I've already come. When I lifted for the first time freshman year, I could hardly squat the bar. Now, four years and a lot of lifting later, I can squat over 465 pounds, the most at my school. Overall, much of my own inspiration comes from my own goals, but I could not possibly be where I am at today without the support and encouragement of my teachers, coaches, and most importantly parents.

Having just been accepted into MIT this winter I've taken a small step further towards reaching my goals of being on the forefront of new technologies. Since I was young, I have always been fascinated by state of the art technology, but it's never been enough for me. I dreamed of working on the next iPhone or next Facebook. Having been accepted into college where I will be pursuing a degree in electrical engineering and computer science, I am once step closer to these childhood goals. When I first started programming, my goal was just to create and release an app to the iOS App Store. In May 2021, I reached that goal when I released WidgeTube to the App Store. Now, I've taken on an even more ambitious programming challenge. My goal is to create an all in one point-of-service application for schools where students can do anything from messaging counselors, to purchasing sports tickets, to finding service opportunities. Once I've reached this goal, I will make another goal towards whatever project I find myself working on. Each time I reach one goal, I make another that pushes the limits further, so that at some point each new goal is on the forefront of new technologies.

Math is the basis of our entire world. The world is made up of mathematical formulas that represent relationships of just a few subatomic particles to relationships of massive galaxies. I particularly enjoy math because it presents a problem, a challenge, but one that (in most circumstances) can be solved. In a modern world where everyday things seem like they are about to spiral out of control, math is grounding. It sticks to defined rules: 1 + 1 will always be 2. But as math advances into far more challenging realms, it also becomes far more interesting and you can see its applications in our daily lives. Every single time you search the internet, math is at work. Google's page rank algorithm is simply linear algebra (Markov chains) on a massive scale. In fact, the computer I'm writing this on is build around mathematics. Math is everywhere and because of that it gives those who pursue it a deeper knowledge of the world around us. This is why I love learning math.

To me influence means to affect anything or anyone, big or small. Even the smallest actions like a smile influence those around you. When you are in a bad mood those around you can fall into that same mood; however, the converse is also true. So I try my best to be happy and positively influence those around me. I also work to influence people around me in sports. As a leader of both the football team and track team, many younger athletes look to me for advice on how to better themselves. Unfortunately, my senior football season did not go entirely as I had hoped. Senior year was one last chance. One last chance to prove my abilities so that I could continue playing at the next level. All summer I trained to be the next big running back for our team, but we were young and undersized. Being among the strongest players on the team, the coaches saw me being most beneficial as a blocker, so as the season began I played fullback. This may not have been the position I wanted to play, but I was going to make the most of it. August 20, we take the field, under the lights, for the first game since last fall’s unprecedented Covid season. The ball is placed on our 35 yard line. The play is a fullback run. I break a tackle and bounce it outside. There is only green grass in front of me… Touchdown! It was a promising start to the season, but trouble would ensue. Since that first game, our team won just one other game. Still, I remained positive each week, made the most out of every game, and encouraged all of my teammates around me. During this time, I learned of the football program at MIT and set my sights on continuing my athletic career wearing cardinal and black. Once I was accepted into MIT I knew I wanted to study computer science. I have always genuinely loved programming and have even released my own app, WidgeTube, to the iOS App Store. My senior capstone project is programming an iPad kiosk for schools where students can get help from counselors, purchase event tickets, and much more. My goal as I continue my studies as a computer science major is to be on the forefront of new technologies and receiving the scholarship would truly go a long way in helping me afford college tuition.