Creating Spaces to Build, Dream, and Belong by Alexandra

Creating Spaces to Build, Dream, and Belong by Alexandra - May 2025 Scholarship Essay

If I had unlimited time and money, I’d create spaces where engineering, education, and equity are able to come together, places that help young people, especially those from underserved communities, see themselves as builders, problem-solvers, and future leaders.
I grew up in the Bronx, where I saw how much where a student lives can affect their chances. Some classrooms had broken projectors, old textbooks, and students with so much potential but not enough support. I was lucky to have teachers who believed in me and encouraged me to explore subjects I never saw myself in, like physics. I still remember getting the only 100 on a physics test. That moment made something click. For the first time, I felt like I truly belonged in a space I used to doubt. And that changed everything.
Over time, that spark became a real passion for engineering, especially mechanical engineering, because it mixes creativity with hands-on problem-solving. When I was little, I’d take apart broken toys just to see what was inside. I wasn’t trying to fix them or be helpful. I was just curious. Even if I couldn’t put them back together, I loved figuring out how the parts worked. That curiosity stuck with me and has grown into a drive to design and build things that improve people’s lives.
But just having that curiosity isn’t enough. Access matters. Encouragement matters. Representation matters. That’s something I’ve learned not just through my academic journey, but through my work on my school’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee. We focus on starting conversations that make people feel seen and heard. One of my favorite moments was leading a discussion with second graders about gratitude and empathy. Their honesty reminded me how important it is to create spaces where every voice counts, especially the ones we don’t always hear.
With unlimited resources, I would create free, community STEM spaces across under-resourced neighborhoods, starting in places like the Bronx. These centers would be more than just after-school programs. They’d be fun, hands-on spaces where kids could explore science and engineering by building things, coding robots, taking stuff apart, and learning through trial and error. Kind of like a mix between a maker space and a support system, where they’d gain skills but also feel confident and like they belong.
These spaces would also reflect what I’ve learned through DEI work. Inclusion isn’t just about letting people in. It’s about making sure they feel welcome once they’re there. The community would shape these STEM spaces, with support for mental health, workshops on speaking up for yourself, and chances for students to see people like them succeeding in STEM, because seeing yourself represented does matter.
Columbia Engineering is the perfect place to keep growing this vision. I plan to study Mechanical Engineering because I want to design systems that solve real problems and serve people, not just corporations. Columbia’s focus on engineering for humanity aligns with that mission. Through the opportunities I encounter there, I will build the skills I need, not just in technical design, but in leadership and empathy.
Unlimited time and money would allow me to move faster, scale bigger, and reach more people. But even without all that, I know the work matters. I’ve seen how small things, like helping a classmate understand a tricky concept or making room for younger students, can have a real impact. I’ve also learned that creating something meaningful takes time, teamwork, and persistence.
At the end of the day, I want to create spaces, physical and emotional, where people feel capable, inspired, and empowered. If engineering is about solving problems, then this is the one I care most about solving.