How I Will Change the World by Zakariya

How I Will Change the World by Zakariya - June 2023 Scholarship Essay

Growing up in a small community has its advantages. My hometown, Somerville, is a budding neighborhood with only about twelve thousand residents packed into two square miles. Most of the people I have gone to elementary school with are graduating with me this year. My teachers at Somerville High School heard about me before I was in 9th grade because they had my siblings in previous years. I am lucky to be among two hundred fifty seniors graduating this year, and my time at SHS has been fantastic.

One thing I look forward to in college is the ability to develop away from home. Although I love Somerville and the close-knit community that it has provided me, I wish to mature in an environment that is new and unfamiliar to me. For all my life, I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone and will continue to do the same in college. I do not shy away from opportunities; I am always down to try something new.

Unlike many of my peers, I never had to decide what I wanted to study in college. Engineering or any technical field seemed like the natural choice. As a child, I was always fascinated by electric circuits and motorized mechanisms. I asked my parents for RC cars, planes, and toy trains every chance I got because my curiosity was insatiable. The cosmetic shell or character the toy came with was of no interest to me; I was more concerned with the wires and motors, which made the toy seem so magical. I distinctly remember getting reprimanded by my parents because they had just brought me a Thomas the Tank Engine train, and I immediately tore it apart to see how it worked. As a middle schooler, I joined my local 4-H FLL robotics team, and from that day onwards, I knew what I wanted to do. I wasn't enthralled; I was obsessed. Not much deliberation was needed to settle on mechanical engineering. I also will pursue a degree in aerospace engineering, due to my childhood dream to become a pilot. Something about all the aviation movies I watched as a kid and continue to watch now inspires me to one day soar in the skies like Maverick and Iceman. Now that I am about to graduate, I can realize my dreams and study the inner workings of aircraft, and perhaps pursue a pilot license, but that will be after college and much further down the road.

I plan to major in aerospace and mechanical engineering in college. I have taken three years of engineering classes at SHS, and they have shown me irrefutable evidence that my future lies ahead in engineering. I have supplemented my education with AP classes in calculus, physics, statistics, and literature, and as a result, I am well prepared for the rigor of college engineering.
Aside from engineering, I plan to improve my public speaking skills in college. Public speaking is an invaluable skill, and I have learned the importance of it senior year, primarily due to Peer Leadership. In college, I look forward to improving my skills and learning to confidently and easily convey my ideas to my peers.

In the long run, I would also like to become a teacher. Perhaps after many successful years in the engineering industry, I will switch occupations and pass on my knowledge and experience to the next generation. Several of my favorite teachers at SHS have done the same, and their positive influence on me inspires me to reciprocate their actions.

I want to leave the world better than when I found it. As an engineer, I aim to innovate what can only be imagined and pioneer new technology that makes everyone's lives easier. I love a good challenge, and engineering is a field filled with challenges that can have genuine benefits. Nowadays, time flies by, and I want to evolve technology to keep up with our fast-paced world. I aspire to have a lasting impact on this rocky planet we call home, and I intend to accomplish that goal through aerospace and mechanical engineering. When my kids look out to the world, I want them to appreciate my efforts. Then crack a smile.