Engineering:Bridging a Passion and a Purpose by Layla

Engineering:Bridging a Passion and a Purpose by Layla - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

My name is Layla Brown, and I am a current high school senior expected to graduate this May and attend Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in the fall .The decision to pursue engineering was created by a unique blend of personal interests and environmental factors.My interests in STEM and science began at a young age where science was as simple as baking soda volcanoes. Observing how the little things I added or mixed together caused big reactions really pushed my interests. Science made me feel like a superhero in spaces where I was anything but super. With the help of teachers who believed in me, science fairs, and many long nights tinkering away , I found electrical engineering.
Outside of school my passion for dance and fascination with physical movement sparked interest in the technical elements and movements in the human body . This initially pushed me towards physical therapy but growing up around Warner Robins Air Force Base exposed me to the need for Prosthetists, and new advanced prosthetics to help veterans and service members.
With college ever on the horizon, I am choosing to join the ranks of influential women in STEM around the globe contributing to a better tomorrow with equal opportunities for all regardless of race, gender , or disability . Creating a universal human experience. I realize the impact that engineering can have on the lives of everyday people , allowing them to regain their feeling of normalcy in a world where they are neglected by those whom they fought to protect.
I intend to contribute to the advancement of bionic and robotic prosthetics, and create cheaper, more effective devices for amputees or people in need.I plan to open my own rehabilitation center where people could get fitted for their devices and attend physical therapy for their needs. Eventually I would like to use my influence to create and run programs to inspire children, especially young women of color, in my community to join fields in STEM.