Ten Years From Now -- Building Better by Erica

Ten Years From Now -- Building Better by Erica - June 2023 Scholarship Essay

At this ripe age, I always figured that suitcases were the best method of transportation. Not for my clothes, but rather for my miniature, three foot, eight inch body. I would drag bulky, red suitcases up the flight of seventeen stairs that connected the third and fourth floor of my family’s townhouse, my younger brother not far behind. Once at the top, we would dangle each suitcase’s edge off the side of the first step before gently nudging ourselves over, leaving my brother and I in for a bumpy, yet exhilarating ride. The process repeated itself: climb, nudge, wee! Family and friends would come over and I sent them down the same path I traveled so many times before. Our shrieks echoed off the walls around us and our parents gave us small eye rolls, but they never did anything further about our newfound hobby. One day, my little cousin said she was up for the challenge, but not even four steps into her journey, the suitcase flipped over. Thud. I quickly rushed to the little girl’s side, but before even ensuring her safety a plethora of questions regarding the matter rushed to my elementary mind. How could the rest of us float down the stairs with ease, but not my cousin? What had caused the suitcase to flip over in the first place? There was nothing more in the world I wanted at the time than to solve this peculiar puzzle. I tested the creakiness of each step with the bottom of my foot, scraped the side of the walls with my hand to feel for a weird dynamic, and of course, made my cousin ride down many many more times.
This funny little story occurred ten years ago. Ten years later from that day, I still find myself wanting to solve any type of complex problem that presents itself to me in a curious frenzy. Just like I wanted to help my cousin experience the same thrill that my brother and I got to feel all those years ago, I want to help others in the present. Ten years from now, I don’t plan for there to be much of a difference. My determination, curiosity, and adventurous personality will continue to push me into situations where I am challenged, yet I will always be looking for solutions.
Going into the future I want to study some type of engineering that will eventually lead me to a career as a Human Factors Engineer. For those who don’t know, these types of engineers design different tools, machines, and systems that take into account human capabilities so the designs can be as efficient for humans as possible. I want to continue helping people and solving problems in my community as I go into the future, and improving these systems will help me do just that.
Education has gotten me this far in my life. I’ve learned my times tables throughout elementary school and how to perfect a cursive Z in middle school. Throughout high school, education has taught me all sorts of intriguing concepts such as calculus derivatives, thermodynamics, and energy potential. Education will continue to support me as I head into the future. As I head into college I will continue taking more advanced engineering classes such as system dynamics, optics, surveying, design analysis. I will learn more about myself as a person, and how I can in turn that around to help those that need it. Education is one of the most exceptional opportunities a person can receive and I will make sure I make the most of it.
Ten years from now I will be financially stable. I will be secure in all my family and friend relationships. I will be watching over my achievements from the windows of the penthouse of my Boston apartment. I might even be able to send my (now much older) cousin down the stairs in a suitcase successfully. But most importantly I will be helping improve the systems that are usually unavailable to under-resourced areas to better the lives of those impacted by such challenges and my education is going to get me there.