Scholarship / I want to read for a PhD in mechanical engineering; Scholarship/ GOALS [2]

Prompt: How will winning this scholarship help you attain your goals?

(Note; this is a quick rough draft so please feel free to make any comments and corrections you see necessary. Thanks a lot! ----------> I will return the favor)

Winning this scholarship will enable me to continue my education; by helping me afford tuition and living expenses in college. My goal after graduating from high school is to attend the University of Nevada Reno and obtain a PhD in mechanical engineering. Working with science and mathematics is something I find great interest in. I discovered this interest during my sophomore year of high school when I joined the FIRST Robotics Club. In FIRST Robotics I was assigned the position of programmer. Essentially, I was responsible for the movement and functionality of robot 2520 (our schools robot). Being able to work with other ambitious students who enjoy science and mathematics has definitely played a huge role in my decision of becoming a mechanical engineer. At home things are completely different. Education is a word seldom mentioned or heard of in my house. Most of the members in my family did not make it beyond middle school with the exception of my youngest sister who dropped out of high school during her sophomore year. Seeing my family member's live unhealthy and unproductive lifestyles pains me; I know things would be a lot different if they recognized the importance of an education. Nonetheless, I am determined to attend college and receive a higher education so that I can give my future family the support and guidance I never received from members of my family. In addition, to being the first high school graduate in my family, going to college will make me a positive role model for my younger nieces and nephews who still have a chance to pursue an education. Also I am grateful to have realized the significance of an education at an early age; realizing this has helped me stay out of trouble and avoid negative influences. More importantly, I am thankful to have realized that an education can lead to new avenues- literally. In about two months from now I will be heading towards an avenue near the University of Nevada Reno (for the purpose of attaining a higher education). Throughout my schooling I have consulted books, teachers, and friends for educational support. Developing a network of positive- trustworthy friends and teachers has also played a valuable role in my decision of becoming a mechanical engineer. An education goes beyond books and classrooms. I'm glad to have realized this at a young age and will continue to strive toward my educational goals. Truthfully, discovering myself in high school was not easy, but at this point in my life, I have been able to discern that my passion lies in the subject of science and mathematics. Furthermore, I know that all of the hardwork I do will pay off in the future, and one day I will be able to tell my success story to teenagers who come from the same background as me. Winning this scholarship would be more valuable then receiving keys to a brand new car because the key to an education is the key to success.

Undergraduate / May is the fifth month of the year; Why number five is important? [6]

Essay Prompt: May is the fifth month of the year. Write a letter to the number five explaining why five is important. Be serious or be funny. Either way, here's a high five to you for being original. (Maximum of 250 words allowed)

Five you are so important because you represent the five senses which include, sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Without you the World would be blind, tasteless, and defunct. The old saying two is better than one can be applied here in this context. The only difference is five is better than four, three, two, and one. Five is better than its four preceding numbers because; without sight we could not see the world around us, without hearing we could not listen to our leaders, without smell we could not detect a fire in our home, without taste we could not enjoy nutrition, and without touch we would not have the ability to comfort our loved ones with a hug or a kiss. You are a whole lot more than you think five. Not only do you represent the five senses, but you also represent the most famous figure in geometry as well as one of the most important administrative buildings in the United States. You represent a pentagon, the department of Defense administrative building in America and the five sided figure in geometry. No wonder why you are such an easy number to remember. Perhaps that's why some businesses will sell their products for $5 dollars instead of $4.99; it helps customers remember the cost of the company's product. You truly are a star to all of us beings on the planet; you even represent the five endpoints on a star.

Writing Feedback / I plan to retire when I am no longer in healthy ;Retirement / Answers 4 questions [5]

THE ESSAY PROMPT IS BROKEN UP INTO FOUR QUESTIONS:

1) What age do you plan to retire?
2) How much money do you think you will need to have saved prior to retiring?
3) What are some of the key decisions you will make in your life to ensure you can retire at the age you want?
4) What are some of the biggest mistakes people make that hinder their ability to live comfortably in retirement?

TO RETIRE - HERE IS MY ROUGH DRAFT:

I plan to retire when I am no longer in healthy condition to function or serve society. I predict that I will no longer function adequately and efficiently around the age of sixty five or above. Sixty five is a number that most Americans dream to get to because that is the age when they can retire and enjoy their lives with their spouse and loved ones. For others, sixty five can be a dreadful number. Some people love working and the thought of going a day- a lifetime without work, can be dreadful and scary. Admittedly, I too am afraid of going a day without working and serving society because I have so much that I want to accomplish and contribute in the fields of science and engineering. After graduating from high school I will attend the University of Nevada, Reno to obtain a master's degree in mechanical engineering. My time spent their will last a total of four years. For my doctorate's degree, I plan to attend either Stanford University or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. By the time I complete my doctorate's degree I will be around the age of twenty nine or thirty years old. Most likely I will have a career by then and have the opportunity to start saving money for my retirement. To live an ideal and comfortable retirement, Benefit Consultant Aon Hewitt predicts that the average full career worker will need to have banked eleven times their annual salary (business.time.com). On average, mechanical engineers make $77,020 per year which, according to Aon Hewitt, means that I will need to have saved roughly $847,220 before retiring. I do not have a specific target number for my savings prior to retiring, however, I like Hewitt's projections and would feel comfortable saving at least $840,000. I am more pragmatic and believe that a comfortable retirement savings should be based on my lifestyle and spending patterns rather than my income.

Currently, I do not pay any bills or worry about living expenses such as bills, food, and clothing. In the future I will have to worry about living expenses and live within my means but as of now it's hard for me to determine what expenses and costs I will have to eliminate to meet my retirement target number. One thing that I am doing, however, is taking the proper steps to reach my career goals so that I can have a financially secure lifestyle after retirement. Pursuing an education is the single and most important step that I am taking right now to set myself up for a happy future and retirement. I am the first high school graduate in my family and living a life of poverty has motivated me to obtain a financially stable career. Coming from a family that has not valued an education, in part, has influenced me to attend college but more so is my own desire for a valuable education and secure source of income. In addition to pursuing a higher education, I am also seeking employment opportunities available at the University I will be attending to save money for graduate school. These small yet powerful steps I am taking at this chapter in my life will help me reach my ideal retirement age and savings. Some of the biggest mistakes people make prior to retiring are spending too much money and not knowing what they're going to do after retirement; this is especially true of professionals such as physicians and medical doctors who do not have time for hobbies or extracurricular activities. Another major mistake most people make prior to retiring is poor planning. Too often, people wait until a year before they retire to inquire their manager or financial supervisor about their retirement benefits and entitlements. I believe that a successful retirement plan should developed/considered five to ten years prior to retiring; this will enable the retiree to determine how much money he or she will have available for expenses, luxury, and bills. To avoid these common mistakes, I plan to switch from full-time to part-time employment and then decide whether or not retirement will be a healthy decision. If I do not meet my target number at 65, then I will postpone my retirement until I reach my desired savings and goals.