My parents came to the land of the free with nothing. Like many immigrants, they came in search of opportunities to live a better life and to provide my sister and I with the best possible future. They worked extremely hard, building a foundation to give two Indian girls everything and teach us the value of hard work. We learned that nothing in life comes easy and that you have to face hurdles for every good thing that happens. The biggest hurdle of all was when my mom was diagnosed with cancer – the small, everyday things seemed trivial. Doctor visits and treatment plans took over. Rather than sulking, I felt the need to do something meaningful. Taking on the role of planning committee lead for our Relay for Life walkathon became my way of channeling this need into action. I wanted to make this event a success. Our team considered many factors, such as securing sponsors, rallying volunteers, and creating an unforgettable experience. This walk was more than a fundraiser; it was a tribute to hope and resilience. The most powerful part was designing the Luminaria Ceremony. As we placed candles around the track, each light symbolized someone’s battle with cancer. We created a space for grief and healing, transforming pain into a sense of home and building collective strength and coalitions in our community. Playing a role like this for Relay for Life was more than a tribute to my mother—it was a reminder of how, even in life’s most challenging battles, we can find light in unity. I was blessed to be the planning lead throughout high school, shaping my desire to pursue a future where I can drive meaningful change and unite people to support one another. Personal development and understanding are central to my undertakings, shaping who I am and what I do for my community. As a California resident, I’ve been inspired by the state's goal to "Make Conservation a California Way of Life." Determined to contribute to this cause, I collaborated with my local water district to develop water budgets for the irrigable areas of Central Park and my high school. With the goal to include high-consumption sites, I provided my data to the water district for future use. These calculations—figures and findings penciled onto my own sheet—taught me valuable lessons in civil engineering, especially important in a state where every drop of water matters. These marks aren’t just pencil, but pen – an etching for my future. I plan on pursuing a bachelor's degree in civil engineering with a minor in business/economics at the University of California institution. I hope to travel around the world and create shelters for those less fortunate, as I have been able to witness poverty first-hand in so many countries

Basketball has been the driving force behind my growth as both an athlete and a leader. Over the years, I’ve honed my skills through countless hours of practice, pushing myself to excel on the court and contribute meaningfully to my team. Whether it’s leading in assists, improving my defensive game, or stepping up in clutch moments, I’ve embraced the challenges that come with competitive play. I’ve been recognized for my contributions through team awards, being named varsity team captain as a freshmen, and earning the trust of my coaches and teammates to guide us through tough games. But basketball is about more than personal achievements—it’s about teamwork and character. As a player, I’ve learned the value of communication, resilience, and showing up for others even when the odds are against us. These lessons extend into my leadership roles as president of the California Scholarship Federation and vice president of the National Honor Society, where I strive to inspire others with the same determination and collaborative spirit I bring to the court. Service has also been a cornerstone of my journey. Inspired by my mom’s battle with stage 4 breast cancer, I led the planning committee for a Relay for Life walkathon and fundraised for the Sukritham Girls Home. These efforts, much like basketball, taught me the importance of perseverance, teamwork, and staying focused on the bigger picture. As a child, I was always captivated by the process of creation—of building—of creating something functional out of disparate pieces. While most saw toys, I saw blueprints waiting to be realized. However, when I outwardly expressed my interest in engineering as I grew older, most responses were accompanied by hesitation. “Have you ever considered medicine or education?” The signs were there all along. In 3rd grade, I took on the daunting marshmallow-and-spaghetti tower project, analyzing how small changes significantly impacted its stability. In 7th grade, I built a bridge for my final project, exhilarated when my design held the most weight in the class. In high school, the ACE program allowed me to sharpen my technical and creative skills as I explored budgeting material usage and proposed a potential redesign for a freeway interchange. These moments cemented my fascination with civil engineering, which I see as more than a profession—it’s a responsibility. Civil engineering determines the places where we work, live, and connect. From the roads we drive on and the water we drink, I am drawn to the opportunity to solve tangible, real-world problems while encouraging equity and sustainability for future generations. Through my athletic accomplishments, service, and educational aspirations, I’ve learned that success comes from dedication, teamwork, and a commitment to growth. With this scholarship, I will carry forward these lessons to create a future defined by purpose and impact.

My parents came to the land of the free with nothing. Like many immigrants, they came in search of opportunities to live a better life and to provide my sister and I with the best possible future. They worked extremely hard, building a foundation to give two girls everything and teach us the value of hard work. We learned that nothing in life comes easy and that you have to face hurdles for every good thing that happens. The biggest hurdle of all was when my mom was diagnosed with cancer – the small, everyday things seemed trivial. Doctor visits and treatment plans took over. Rather than sulking, I felt the need to do something meaningful. Taking on the role of planning committee lead for our Relay for Life walkathon became my way of channeling this need into action. I wanted to make this event a success. Our team considered many factors, such as securing sponsors, rallying volunteers, and creating an unforgettable experience. This walk was more than a fundraiser; it was a tribute to hope and resilience. The most powerful part was designing the Luminaria Ceremony. As we placed candles around the track, each light symbolized someone’s battle with cancer. We created a space for grief and healing, transforming pain into a sense of home and building collective strength and coalitions in our community. Additionally, as a child, I was always captivated by the process of creation—of building—of creating something functional out of disparate pieces. While most saw toys, I saw blueprints waiting to be realized. However, when I outwardly expressed my interest in engineering as I grew older, most responses were accompanied by hesitation. “Have you ever considered medicine or education?” The signs were there all along. In 3rd grade, I took on the daunting marshmallow-and-spaghetti tower project, analyzing how small changes significantly impacted its stability. In 7th grade, I built a bridge for my final project, exhilarated when my design held the most weight in the class. In high school, the ACE program allowed me to sharpen my technical and creative skills as I explored budgeting material usage and proposed a potential redesign for a freeway interchange. These moments cemented my fascination with civil engineering, which I see as more than a profession—it’s a responsibility. Civil engineering determines the places where we work, live, and connect. From the roads we drive on and the water we drink, I am drawn to the opportunity to solve tangible, real-world problems while encouraging equity and sustainability for future generations.

Hello! My name is Swetha and I am currently a high school junior. As my four years are slowly coming to an end, I am in the process of planning out my future goals. I plan on majoring in Civil Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. UC Berkeley has been my dream college since I was in 6th grade and it would be such an honor and incredible opportunity to attend this university. Adversity is something that has been faced by all of us in some way or another. In forms such as difficult news or a challenging relationship. Though many view adversity as a negative experience, adversity brings out the best in us. Helping us to grow and learn, to develop new skills and strengths, and to become more compassionate and understanding people. Adversity is denotationally defined as difficulties and misfortune; however, I view adversity as a challenging experience that betters us as a whole. When I was around 10 years old, my mother was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer, and it came as a shock because there had been no previous knowledge of cancer in our family. My parents were immigrants from India and came to the United States to create new opportunities for my sister and me. They have diligently strived to build the most perfect lives that two little Indian girls could dream of. This news had truly and utterly broken us. The moment my mom told me, my mind started racing. Anxiety, panic, and sadness entered my head before I went to bed every night. Before I even knew about the phrase mental health, I was racked with emotions that did not adhere to who I was as a person, even at a young age. We talked, we cried, it hurt but we found ways to fight it and mustered up the faith and courage to jump over the impossibly large hurdle that was placed in front of us. Adversity helped me build resilience and allowed us to bounce back from this situation. I was taught how to cope with stress, build healthy and positive coping mechanisms, and develop useful problem-solving skills. I coped with these difficulties through meditation, spending time with family, and playing basketball. This was something that I feel like nobody should have had to face at such a young age however, it led to my personal growth by clearly defining my values and goals. When faced with a challenging situation, I was forced to confront my fears and overcome my weaknesses. My mom’s diagnosis gave me a new perspective on life. I gained a new appreciation for the things that were most important to me, such as family, friends, health, and overall happiness, and this allowed me to prioritize what is truly valuable in life. In situations where we face adversity, it is very easy to give up hope and pity the predicament that we are placed in, however, it is so important that we rise and fight it head-on. I always live by and continue to live by one motto: everything happens for a reason. I feel that we have grown together as a family, and I have grown as a person. The process of supporting a loved one through cancer treatment is a transformative experience that leads to a deeper appreciation for the preciousness of life. Though for many, adversity is a misfortune, it has molded me into a better person and has taught me how to cope with stress which I carried on to other tense times.

Music has always been such an immense part of my life. It has taught me so much more about my culture as well as the differences between generations. I participate in classical dance as well as classical singing. When singing, vocal pitching is an integral part of connecting with the songs that you sing. To ensure that I am singing in the correct pitch, my music guru introduced me to an electronic shruti box 11 years ago. A shruti box is an instrument, that originated from the Indian subcontinent. It is similar to a harmonium and is used to help tune the voice. In the late 1900s, musicians utilized the sounds of a shruti box through carved instruments. Today, with a push of a button, the shruti box lets out a drone that assists the musical endeavors of vocalists as well as other instrumentalists. This device inspires me in so many ways. When I think of the morals and lessons that I have learned from music taught me, the list goes on and on. In a funny, yet true way, the shruti box taught me discipline. If I am off-pitch, the song that I am singing would lose its divinity and I would know when to restart. There will always be technical reasons as to why technology will better the world. Technology will make our lives easier, introduce more efficient ways of communication, etc. However, I feel as though we, the younger generations, do not think about how technology allows us to reach into our past and learn so much more about ourselves and the culture that surrounds us. Understanding who we are and where we come from creates our desire to spread our knowledge to succeeding generations. As a young Indian girl, I was often confused and ashamed of my culture as there was nobody around me to whom I could relate. Starting to learn music introduced me to the beauty of Carnatic music and mostly, my culture. Something as simple as an electronic box that tunes my voice taught me how technology connects us to our past, present, and future.

With both of my engineering parents, the subject is something that has permanently been imprinted on me since I was little. People have always told me to do/be something different. "Your parents are already engineers. Do something different. Be a doctor or maybe a lawyer." I listened to those people for a while, trying to find interest in medicine or debating. However, these things never struck a chord in my heart or mind. Around 8th grade, I was getting more and more questions about what my future would look like. I always knew that engineering was never an option that would disappear and I noticed more and more interests within myself that were linked to the study of engineering. Joining a STEM club was something that I always thought was nerdy and a waste of time, however, looking back I realize that this club fueled my desires and solidified what I wanted to do. On a different note, my family is from India, however, I was born and raised in California. I have visited India many times because my close relatives reside there. It is no secret that India is filled with poverty and deprivation that is beyond what we see in the US. However, many things that I have seen have stayed in my mind no matter the years that pass. While stopped at an intersection, I would see a mother with her young baby wrapped around her chest with two other children following her. She is trying to sell a cheap toy for not even 1 dollar. I cannot help but wonder, why are they in this situation? What can I do to get them out of this situation? No one deserves to be in a situation where they feel the need to beg to satisfy their basic needs. Currently, I am a high school sophomore, and after I graduate, I plan to go to college majoring in engineering and minoring in business administration and management. Last year, I took a Business course at my local community college and it brought out an interest that I never thought I had. Management was something that I knew had to be included in whatever I choose to pursue. Organization, the ability to work as a team, and leading were qualities needed to run a business and I realized that I had those qualities within myself. With my knowledge in engineering and business, I foresee myself working toward becoming an owner of an engineering company. My vision is to have a company that works in underprivileged areas and builds affordable and sustainable small shelters for homeless families. Writing this mini-essay excites me for my future and what I will be doing for people who need help getting the life that they deserve.

Growing up, I found myself to be the person and the student who yearns for a solution to every doubt in my little world or the girl to challenge every claim and try to offer a better explanation. "Are you sure we couldn't build it a little higher?" I asked my classmate as we built a spaghetti and marshmallow tower in 3rd grade. My classmate rejected my idea; however, I went along with it. Granted, the tower did fall quickly after I added my additional layer but recognizing these small memories from the past constantly reminds me of how much I want to pursue engineering for the rest of my life. I am a sophomore in high school, and I genuinely appreciate the many opportunities to showcase each person's talent. It also brings me delight to volunteer, as helping people in underprivileged societies is something that brings great joy to my life. I have volunteered at Path of Life Ministries, a homeless shelter. I have gone there on multiple occasions to cook and serve food to the residents. Also, I am a youth volunteer at an organization called "Karmodaya." It is a non-profit organization that seeks to offer services to communities so they can have equal opportunities and resources needed to attain their potential for fulfilling lives. I was also introduced to Sukritham Girls' Home in India. They are a home for girls who come from unsupportive or unlivable backgrounds. I was able to fundraise and visit them this past summer in India and felt immense happiness while talking and interacting with the children. I would love to use my passion for engineering to fuel my love for supporting underprivileged communities. My parents are engineers and work for water companies. Because of this, I have been surrounded by analytics and strategic thinking, that engineering requires. I have attended multiple events at my parents' work, guiding me on which career path to follow. An occasion, in particular, was an Earth Day event; a small booth had a miniature model of a suspension bridge with beams and cables. I was genuinely amazed and had many questions, helping me realize that I should strive for a career in civil engineering. As I grew older and took classes such as Physics and Advanced Math, I knew how much I enjoyed and had a passion for engineering.