Growing up in a small village in Poland with an over two-hour drive to the nearest airport, I was not exposed to airplanes at a young age, so I cannot say that I knew I wanted to be an aerospace engineer from the beginning. All I knew at the time was that, unlike other girls, I despised playing with dolls and preferred to build things instead. My life revolved around jigsaw puzzles and my beloved Star Wars Lego sets — the more difficult, the better. Math made sense to me, science delighted me, and challenges excited me.

It was not until my family decided to move to the United States that I saw my first plane. Seeing such a colossal machine overwhelmed me at first, but when I experienced the burst of speed during take-off and saw my country become nothing but a patchwork of colorful fields, I was beyond fascinated. I could not comprehend how a metal machine so large in size could soar with such ease. How was it possible that I felt as safe among the clouds as I did on the ground?

Living in the United States allowed me to explore this new interest further. My family lived under a flight path a few miles away from O'Hare airport in Chicago, and I was able to observe different types of planes landing daily. We would come out to the lakefront every summer to view the Chicago Air and Water show, and I would always give most of my attention to the airplanes, especially the F-16’s. I was mesmerized.

When I entered high school and the time came for me to think about college majors, the choice was clear. I knew that engineering was a field that combined all the things I loved to do since my early childhood, and the aerospace branch added on the passion I found later on. Through recent years, I have been working towards learning more about this profession. With the help of my uncle, whose greatest hobby is flying small planes, I was able to have a first-hand experience in working with these machines. We often drive out to a small airport in the suburbs, where he teaches me the basic pre-checks, functions of parts, and controls. Academically, I have been developing my love for math and science by taking all honors classes and Advanced Placement courses, such as AP Physics and AP Calculus BC, to explore engineering and prepare myself for the years of college ahead.

An engineering degree for me means so much more than an entry ticket into the industry. As a future engineer, I aspire to contribute to innovative ideas while doing something I absolutely love.

As an immigrant, I aspire to be an inspiration to those who have left everything familiar to them behind in order to pursue the world.

As a first-generation college student, I aspire to motivate my younger brother and those without guiding mentors to take their education into their own hands and make the most of it.

As a woman wanting to go into a field that happens to consist of 87% men, I aspire to be a role model for other girls interested in STEM, or simply for those who lack the self-confidence to follow what fuels their curiosity.

Possibilities are endless.