Life Manual by Jaila

Life Manual by Jaila - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

Since the tender age of three, I began building legos. I would follow the instruction manual step by step, always looking forward to the final result; even though I already knew because the final display was on the front box. I always made sure each step was precisely followed, until I did not. I then began making my own creations, unsure of what the finished outcome would be. I found the unpredictability more enjoyable than doing it by the book. However, it was nerve wracking stepping out on my own terms and not following the rules. Honestly, I personally was not sure if I had the potential to become a great builder. I have always been a rule follower. What if I wasn’t as successful? However, that drive, that audacity to turn imagination into reality, and to chase a dream was my new found strength. This is what I love most about majoring in mechanical engineering! A part of me is protocol adherent. Yes! I love following the rules. But, then there is the explorative and curious side of me that indulges in the mechanics of science.
Building legos in the past set the precedent for my educational journey and goals, currently. Here I am today, ready to become the BEST mechanical engineer I can be! Our society is constantly changing and we need the next generation of engineers to take the initiative to invest in worldly concerns. This is why I want to make myself a marketable engineer, to be ready for these incoming issues. As I learn about the world of engineering, I see where I can be a part of making the world function safely and properly l. The idea of working collectively with creative minds who understand science is “patience” and it’s not monolithic but cautious, calculated and exploratory. I look forward to fostering an understanding of why collaboration and ideas are so important to the world of engineering in all capacities. No matter what we do in life, the world will connect us like one big lego piece.