Goal During College by Vamshi

Goal During College by Vamshi - July 2015 Scholarship Essay

I came from a family and school that taught me not to follow the directions on a piece of paper to perform an experiment, but to think ahead and design an experiment from the creativity and knowledge that I knew about the subject at hand. A school that didn't teach me to learn science as separate, distinctive fields, but to learn how each one has a purpose and integrates with the others to form the science we know today. A school that didn't set bars at my age, but encouraged me to read, experiment, and write at a high standard even if the results didn't reflect my effort. But at the heart of this school was something that gave me a chance to find my passion, and discover new concepts and ideas. It was at this place where I truly found my ambition of designing my own research project: creating a new material that would repel polar liquids. This wasn't assigned by a mentor, piece of paper, or website. It was designed by my intuition, manipulation, and competence that I had compiled over the years here. It taught me the experience of working in the laboratory setting, and gave me the opportunity to work on a question that no one has ever thought about. I came from the research and STEM-centric Loudoun Academy of Science.

As a prospective entrepreneur, I hope to apply this scholarship to my future goal of launching a materials research company that focuses on studying and improving the materials used to fabricate the electronics, equipment, and processes used in the world today from stainless steel to titanium and aluminum alloys by exposing myself to research in the material sciences while also getting involved in real world scenarios regarding my major in computer engineering while I study it. I have always had a passion for investigating research in the material sciences as a high school student and I intend on continuing my research through college while majoring in Computer Engineering. A major part in the computers and other electronics used by millions of people is the microchip architecture and circuits that are responsible for many of the essential functions of these devices. I hope to study the chemical structure and processes within these chips and circuitry along with the materials covering these components in an attempt to further current data transfer speeds along with the durability and longevity of the components through implementing new innovative mechanisms. With my current research on superhydrophobic aluminum, I plan to broaden my range into microcircuits, silicon chips, and other materials as I become more immersed in and interact more heavily with my major. As the integration of materials science and computer engineering becomes more dynamic and demanding of a business, huge companies such as Apple and Google look forward to new materials designed to provide more safety, durability, and features for their customers and businesses. With this scholarship, I would be granted the opportunity to devote more time towards my research under professors that would be able to support and assist me with my curiosity in materials science along with my major.

As any entrepreneur, having a dedicated leadership and business ideology is crucial for a successful start up business. My leadership philosophy follows the idea of putting my service and gratitude towards others in need before my own self-interests or desires. Whenever I make a decision as a volunteer coordinator at an event, I always take into consideration our team’s individual decisions rather than just solely my own, as a coordinator, when figuring out how to deal with a situation at hand. As a rank leader in the Marching Band, I talk with rank leaders and captains from other sections to check up on how their members are before making decisions on learning new sets, music, or marching styles during practice. As a tutor for the Math, Science, and National Honors Society, I help students with academic areas by guiding them towards a solution by asking them how or why one method is correct versus another or why this equation should be used in this situation. I believe that with my leadership philosophy, I could help promote these same beliefs and values in the real world from helping make cohesive group decisions on a developing project under me or assist coworkers, if possible, with any issues they are having with their work.

Progression has always been a desire and goal for researchers, scientists, and engineers alike to pursue in an effort to expand their knowledge base and learning capabilities; but an underlying aspect is progression does not come without service to society so that it is not left behind struggling to keep up with advancements. Having said that, the gift of education provides one of the best opportunities to improvise societal needs which itself becomes a new philosophy that encourages forward thinking and a steady progress to society as a whole, and I aspire to embrace such a gift on my path towards entrepreneurship and building a successful and impactful materials research company.