President's Scholarship Essay: From Hardship to Higher Ed

Growing Up in Hawaiian Gardens

Several of my childhood friends succumbed to the temptations of gang life as we grew up in a low-income, predominantly Hispanic neighborhood in Hawaiian Gardens, California. I witnessed many people my age and younger act out of desperation and hopelessness, driven by a false sense of self-esteem. Once, I spoke to one of my closest childhood friends about his spending inordinate amounts of time with some known gang members. Confronting him made him noticeably uncomfortable. "Leave me alone," he said. "Maybe if you just got to know them better…" The lure of that life was sometimes hard to resist, as it served as a major social and political outlet for many people my age in the neighborhood. I struggled often with designing my own life path amid the hardships I witnessed around me.

The Role of Family and Travel

Luckily, my parents were good role models. Both teachers, they taught me the value of a higher education and continually encouraged me to capitalize on my academic strengths. Without unduly pressuring me, my parents urged me to devote time to my studies, and while I often felt they were being overprotective, I now see that they offered me love and support on a scale that many of my other friends did not enjoy. I owe much of my scholastic success to my parents' emotional support and the example they set for me through their own lives.

Unlike many of my peers, I had the opportunity to backpack through Europe with my father and my brother. Traveling afforded me innumerable opportunities to meet people from diverse backgrounds, many of whom spoke different languages. One of the biggest challenges while traveling is overcoming cultural and language barriers, and my experience in Europe was as valuable as — if not more so than — my formal education. Moreover, I have had the opportunity to take advantage of the incredible natural surroundings here in the United States and have hiked several local mountains, including Mount Whitney. Hiking and being in nature are other informal yet extremely valuable forms of personal education. As I contemplate my future, I am beginning to understand the connections between my personal life experiences and my formal education. I believe I am an ideal candidate for the President's Scholarship because I can combine a rich personal vision with a strong commitment to academic goals.

Academic Interests in Computer Science

Through school I have been exposed to my main fields of interest — fields that I intend to pursue throughout my undergraduate and professional careers. Specifically, computer science has caught my attention. Since my first computer science class in school, I knew that I was well suited to explore this field in depth. Whenever my friends or family members have a problem with their computers, they usually turn to me first, because I have taught myself so much. As I foresee an abundance of academic and career opportunities in computer science and engineering, I will wholeheartedly persevere to succeed as an undergraduate in this competitive yet rewarding area.