Rally and Autocross

Cars are a big part of what got me into engineering. Growing up in the fortunate position of having access to multiple, albeit slightly derelict, cars, I became familiar with how different cars can feel. Cars designed with passion exude it. Whether you're behind the wheel or watching one drive by, it's obvious when a car, expensive or not, is designed by someone passionate about what they were doing. While this is true for almost anything people make, cars are a special case. Cars are not only a canvas for countless hours of passionate work, but the way the passion is transferred to the user is visceral and tangible. You can hear it, feel it, and see it. In some cases, you can even see it and smell it. All of these senses, as well as the feeling of passion, are heightened by motorsport. As soon as I realized this, I was hooked. I spent nearly all the money I made from the detailing business I started in high school to prepare my own car for autocross. When I ran out of money and things to do on my own car, I joined a local rally team and helped them fix the car on stage and prepare it off stage. Not only were these experiences pivotal in learning about mechanical engineering, but they were my first chances to show my passion through design, which is the foundation of my desire to become an engineer.