Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Tell us about your academic/career short-term and long-term goals.
How has your Hispanic heritage influenced these goals?

My academic career has always included a love for math and science.  After my freshman year is when I determined that I had a natural ability for these subject areas and I started researching careers in which I could use them.  I enjoy building things and figuring out how to solve problems so my interest in mechanical engineering greatly increased.  My short-term goals include graduating from high school and maintaining my 3.2 grade point average.  My step-father is a computer field engineer and he has greatly influenced my career goals.  He is also Hispanic and is one of the reasons that I want to major in mechanical engineering.  He has inspired me to do my best and has been instrumental in my determination to attend college. 

My Hispanic heritage has influenced these goals because as the enrollment of Hispanics in schools increase, our graduation rates from high school are not that impressive.  I want to be a positive role model for my Hispanic peers and be an encouragement to them.  When society tells me that I cannot do something because the odds are against it is when I am the most determined.  Being an Hispanic male and wanting to attend and graduate from college hopefully will prove to other Hispanic males that they can achieve their goals if they keep trying. 

Describe your participation in extracurricular activities.
What have you learned from your experience(s)?
(Examples may include: community service, volunteer work, employment, school clubs, sports, family, church, etc.) *

For the past four years I have been involved in our high school marching band as a percussionist.  This year I was selected to be the section leader.  I have been a member of the RHS golf team and have been a varsity letterman for the last two seasons and was one of our co-captains as well.  My favorite sport is baseball and I have been participating in this since I was five years old.  School organizations that I am a member of include FCCLA and GEEK club, which is a club for math and science students in which we play and develop games to increase these skills.  From participating in these activities I have learned the importance of playing as a team and also how vital encouraging one another is.  Being chosen as a leader also has taught me how necessary it is to evaluate situations before ever reacting to them.  I feel that I have grown as an individual by being a participant and member of these activities.  I have also had two jobs which have taught me the importance of being on time and doing my best while on the job.  Employers count on their employees to be present at work and when my colleague did not show up for work, I understood how big of a toll it puts on everyone.  I feel that all of this has prepared me to be successful in college and also how to communicate and interact with others.

Describe a recent academic challenge you have faced.
Explain how you overcame it.*

I really haven’t experienced many academic challenges, but this year in my debate class, I was challenged by my teacher.  I have never worked so hard in any class and what made it so difficult for me was that I had to debate my classmates.  I learned that you can disagree with someone but not have to dislike them.  Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion and I developed a genuine respect for this.  I also learned how vitally important preparation is for performing at my teacher’s high standards.  I practiced at home and did thorough research in order to feel prepared and be confident in my presentation so that I did not appear offensive or aggressive toward my peers.