Dear H-E-B, Thank you for giving me the opportunity to become an H-E-B Scholar and for awarding me the H-E-B Scholarship. I am eternally grateful for the support from you and the scholarship as I continue on my path of education.

I’m a student at Northeast Lakeview College, and my decision to further my education was influenced by my parents’ sacrifices to get where we are now. Although both of my parents weren’t given many opportunities growing up, they still managed to give me the life they never had, and I want to show them that their sacrifices gave me the best chance I could ask for.

Both of my parents were born into struggling families and were not given as many opportunities as other kids. My dad was introduced to work at a young age because my grandparents had only enough money for food and to keep a roof over their heads. He had to learn how to take care of himself and his possessions, like his car, because he didn’t have many people to rely on but himself. From there on, he worked endlessly all the way up to when he had me. My dad’s family has always been known as the mechanics of the neighborhood, and this created my curiosity for cars and why the different parts are important for them to function. Engineering aspects throughout my life have always been fascinating to me because of my desire to understand and create solutions. Over time, this influenced my choice to study engineering.

My mom is also another inspiration to me. She is the oldest out of her two other siblings, and for most of her childhood, she had to raise both of them herself. My mom didn’t have someone to rely on, and because of this, she needed to grow up fast. This would lead to my mom working endlessly and understanding how the world works for her siblings, and later to support me.

Both of my parents have put in so much effort for our family, and this motivates me to make the most of the opportunities they’ve given me. I want to show them that not only does my hard work pay off, but so does theirs. The time and effort that I put into achieving my career goals in the engineering field will show my parents that their hard work has given their son the opportunity to become the best version of himself.

Outside of the classroom, I work part-time so that I can financially help my parents with bills while also paying off my school. In addition, I spend time with family and friends, keeping up with my health in the gym, creating music, building things, and learning how cars work. These hobbies and interests of mine have also influenced my decision to go into the engineering field because I enjoy hands-on work.

After I graduate from the Alamo Colleges, I plan to transfer to a four-year university to study Mechanical Engineering. I want to be a part of a field of work where I’m given the opportunity to design, build, and improve something while also learning. My academic goals are to earn a high GPA, gain experience from internships, and be part of an organization to make connections and to shape my future.

My career goal after I finish my degree is to be part of NASA and have an engineering career. Although my goals for a career are to be a part of an environment that I enjoy, I want to build a financially stable future for me and my family while also becoming the best version of myself.

Receiving the H-E-B Scholarship will make a meaningful impact on my educational journey, as this will give me the support that I need to pay for school. This gives me more freedom to focus on my classes and strive toward my degree without any financial pressure on me. In addition, H-E-B’s investment in my education gives me the motivation to work hard and make this opportunity count.

Finally, thank you again, H-E-B, for believing in students like me and making this opportunity possible. I am proud to be an H-E-B Scholar, and I hope that I can help others out like how you helped me.