<p>Being an only child from a Filipino-Spanish family, I had everything in life that I could ever wish forexcept a happy, complete family. For the greater part of my life, it was just my mother and I. My father died months before I was born, leaving my mother as the sole provider. My mother worked tirelessly to support me, and though her time was limited, she always made time to be the caring and supportive mother that I have always appreciated and loved. When I was five years old, I remember she brought me with her to work so I could see her and somehow to have an idea on how she negotiate with clients. She always pushed me to the limit in everyday situations, and emphasized the importance of education, where I almost gave up because of the lack of money. I know that I have grown up to be a disciplined and an independent young man, and having been raised this way helped me see that giving up will never get me anything worth having in life. I know that education is the only thing that I always hold on to and will never be stolenit is just a prerequisite for success.</p>
<pre><code>Three years ago, my mother and I moved from the Philippines to the United States following my mothers marriage. Though it was difficult, I managed to adjust to this new environment, it felt like starting all over. Although I had taken advantage of the educational offerings in the Philippines and learned English prior to coming to the United States, I was hesitant to use the language. However, through different clubs and organizations that I participated in and leadership roles that I have taken, it shaped me into a greater man and made me realize that language is powerful and that it is one of the keys to success.
As a child, curiosity has always been the base of my knowledgeI loved disassembling my playthings to see how manufacturers constructed them and how they worked. When my curiosity was satisfied, I equally enjoyed reassembling them back to their original design. Unlike others, who dont care how things are made, I have always thought outside the box and wanted to explore things beyond the limit.
My passion and talent for math and art have contributed to my aspirations of becoming an architect or civil engineer. I find the work of architects and engineers fascinating because they make a relatively permanent and lasting product that we can see and touch. I am determined to learn more how buildings are being built; I want to help make a better world. I know that we can make a change and explore things beyond the future. I do believe that all the possibilities that lie ahead shouldn't be imagined, but it should be done.
One of my biggest accomplishments is having skipped a grade in United States and graduating a year earlier than typical senior students. I remember how hard it was to study back in the Philippinesthere were every day quizzes, weekly tests, and we had four quarters which meant having four finals. I am proud that I am graduating a year earlier because I know that having this experience is a unique opportunity for me to do more, to show what I am made of.
Although asthma has limited my ability to be involved in sports, I have still participated in a lot of extracurricular activities. To help myself become a part of my new high school, I joined different clubs and programs, which will help me in the future. I am the Co-President of both Ecology Club, and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Junior Club at my school. I am also a member of American Chemical Society which is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry, and Key Club which involves community services. I do believe that these clubs and programs have already extended my knowledge on how best to conserve, and analyze how an engineer innovate solutions for global climate change. I also joined ACE (Architecture Construction Engineering) which, certainly, already have helped me understand the work of architects and engineers. My active membership has expanded my point of view and I have been given many perspectives on what engineers do. Through these groups, which focused on my career choice, I have realized that engineers need vivid imaginations in order to create things that will help shape the future. In engineering, there is always something to do, something to improve and ideas to explorethere is no limit.
I am an ambitious, hard-working and challenge orientated individual who is eager to fulfill a lifelong desire to become a qualified architect or civil engineer. I do believe that graduating at a young age and then start working, in the long run, is the best thing to do. I am excited to begin on my college education, and I look forward to the many opportunities that are ahead. Education will be the pathway to a successful future
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