Radio Check! How's the Drive Looking Like? by Valeria

Radio Check! How's the Drive Looking Like? by Valeria - April 2024 Scholarship Essay

Passions make my heart throb, smile wide, gush non-stop …but staying interested in the singularity for many years was a difficult concept to wrap my head around. I mourn, forever mourn, the past concepts and theories that perished to a short-term affair, a fickle love. However, as much as I wave tearful goodbyes to past attempts, I embrace the newness with open arms, for a calling…
The calling.
Unexpectedly, Motorsports became that calling.
This widely respected annual sport involves a strong bond of unity, regulation adjustments, daring strategies, time-consuming research, labyrinthine mechanics and aerodynamics in capacities never seen before. The speed, the sounds, the crowds, and oh, the cars! Unbelievable cars balancing the fine line of insanity and exhilaration! Art going to incredible speeds, built by incredible people. Heart beats in excitement, the adrenaline rush of cheering as they cross the finish line, measured to the millisecond.
Bewildered, bewitched!
And I didn’t just watch, I learned. Tire degradation causes slowdown, airflow stall causes porpoising, disastrous DNF by fuel pressure system failure. Terms such as diffuser, DRS, chicane, dirty air, downforce, flo vis, and aerorakes... Fascinated by the hundreds of hours of components that keep the chassis and engine roaring, effortlessly dominating the grid! A singular error could cause delay, but only a mere setback, a chance to arise anew.
Got me thinking, got me wishing. “Just imagine,” I whispered, wishing. “Imagine being part of this grand piece of ingenuity…”
A spark was lit and within that fire arose my determination to pursue an education in Mechanical Engineering, become a novice Motorsport Engineer in Indy, NASCAR, or FIA division, or, apply for a Motorsport Masters at Purdue University and Universities in the UK or Germany. Motorsport engineers are typically required to obtain a Bachelor's certification in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, and/or Automotive engineering to build a versatile foundation in a wide range of subjects and tailor a specialized learning plan to enhance comprehension of materials, manufacturing, thermodynamics, aerodynamics, propulsion, and vehicle dynamics. International relations and multilingual communications is the additional aspect of working worldwide, furthering my intention to learn Foreign Languages and Linguistics. Already imagining my university course work, the workshops, and racing divisions such as Formula SAE and Baja SAE…
Even if some things fall out of plan, I'm not straying away.
But I am more or less, starting from zero
No doubt about it, starting with minimal mechanical knowledge is going to be challenging. Shifting from books to the wrrrsss and bzzzzs in workshops, getting adjusted, up to speed… I’m bound to be overwhelmed.
So.
Little by little, I’m leveling the playing field.
Enrolled myself in AP Calculus Courses, embracing the mathematical (grueling) challenge. Founded a F1 Challenge Club, racing miniature car models and hosting race watch. Consuming autobiographies of former mechanics, sparing helpful and enlightening insight. Documentary late night watches, evaluating the car changes and history, safety regulations updates, and lore of said team. Searching, yearning, sketching… I have the end goal in mind, just conjuring the plan.
After all, I do intend to go further beyond my limits.