Help Hayat Achieve Her Dream This Summer!

Every so often we receive an application from a teenager who has a time sensitive need and this is one of those times!  Please read about this amazing young women and her goal of attending a prestigious Engineering camp this summer in Europe.  Hi, my name is Hayat.  I am interested in different cultures, languages, and ethnicities. My father was born and raised in Iran by my Arab grandparents, whereas my mother is full Mexican. Then there is me,  a Roman Catholic Mexican with an exotic ethnical background. Spanish is my first language, followed by English and I can understand few words or ideas spoken in Chaldean, Farsi, and Arabic. My father never required my sister and I to learn his languages; however, my interest in them has pushed my boundaries.I was born in Mexico and lived there until the beginning of my high school journey. As a freshman, I started without knowing anyone in my new community. Being new in a community even pushed me to the point of crying. We now live in a one-room apartment and my sister and I sleep in uncomfortable movable mattresses on the living room floor. In Mexico, I remember sleeping on a bed in my own room. The process of adapting to the United States, to the International Baccalaureate Program at Castle Park High, and to my new life style has required a tremendous effort on my part. In order for me to be eligible for the International Baccalaureate program, I had to meet the standards. I was missing a required level of math, Intermediate Algebra, a credit that I successfully met at the Chula Vista Adult School with motivation and the desire to become an International Baccalaureate scholar. As a student athlete, I faced a challenging sophomore year of high school, in which I managed to attend adult school after regular class, cross country, track and basketball practice. My days as an active sophomore, with a tight schedule, prepared me for the plethora of activities I achieved as a junior. Although I perceive the change of environment as a struggle, my family and I decided that moving to the United States would be in the best decisions towards my academic future. I plan to become a structural engineer while I find myself fascinated by math and buildings. I will be part of a team that contributes to the creation of a building, utilizing problem-solving skills and mathematics on a daily basis.Furthermore, I got accepted into the 2014 International Summer Academy in Engineering for Women (ISAE4W) in Wels, Austria. As I aspire to become a structural engineer, this will be a great experience for me. I currently demonstrate my interest in the engineering field by participating in the Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE) Mentor Program at Castle Park High School. The summer academy will take place in Wels, Austria for a time period of two weeks, from July 7th to July 18th, 2014. In this summer academy I will not only further develop engineering skills but I will also engage in an abroad program full of culture. I will improve language and intercultural skills, make international contacts, broaden technical and scientific knowledge, and participate in a creative and fun experience. This program is a perfect opportunity for me to enrich my curiosity for different cultures and expose myself to the field of engineering. However, I have to cover my flight ticket, living and personal expenses. Please help me become part of this incredible opportunity.I am passionate and motivated to make a change as a female engineer who will stand for women’s rights, equal pay, and positive representation of a successful woman in the work place. I plan to achieve these goals by acting as a role model of professional females in the field and by becoming actively involved as a member of organizations that support working women and create opportunities for females to grow and thrive in their engineering careers and in their lives.I am hoping to find a sponsor that will help me to attend the Academy this summer.  Thank you so much for your time and consideration,HayatIf you would like to help Hayat travel to the Summer Academy in Engineering for Women this July please click here to donate now.