Receiving this scholarship means the entire world to me as it gave me hope to keep striving to pursue my postsecondary education, as well as giving those with disabilities, invisible or physical, an opportunity to continue on into postsecondary education even when we thought we couldn’t.

My dream in elementary school was to go to UCF, but I fell in love watching people do nails and the passion they put into their artwork. Now I want to pursue my dreams and become a nail tech and own my own salon in the future. This scholarship means that I have an opportunity in life to change and find my own passion and become successful.

As a person who has SLD (specific learning disability) I struggled when I was younger and didn’t have any confidence. HSHT taught me it’s okay to be different. It also helped me get my first job as a lifeguard after getting certified in CPR and first aid. I believe HSHT prepared me for my education goals and I want to pursue my dream of becoming a pediatric nurse.

The High School High Tech program has given me the opportunity to learn different kinds of jobs through internships. I used to be shy, but High School High Tech helped me be more confident and social by having me attend volunteering events. This scholarship helps to relieve some financial pressures and allows me to focus on my education.

HSHT has helped me overcome many challenges I face, such as speaking up for myself and allowing me to manage my time better. I just got licensed as a CNA, I love to read, and I am pursuing a career in the medical field. Receiving the RISE Scholarship is a huge blessing to me, and it will help me reach my goals by making me be stress-free without worrying about finances.

As a student that has a disability, there have been times that I felt like giving up. HSHT helped me build communication skills, leadership skills, and problem-solving techniques. This program has really shaped me as the person I am today. I have also learned not to be ashamed of my disability and see it more as what makes me unique. My goal is to pursue my interest in the medical field — I am interested in becoming a Midwife Nurse minoring in psychology.

Before joining HSHT, I wasn’t sure what path I wanted to take after high school. HSHT opened doors for me that I may not have found on my own. Because of HSHT, I now see a future where I can make a difference in the lives of students with disabilities. My goal is to become a teacher who encourages, supports, and believes in every child; just like the people who believed in me.

I love to learn to gain insight into the world and the people in it. I like to use my hands to make things, which gives me a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. The RISE Scholarship means the world to me. It allows me to fulfill my dream of going to college and become a Mechanical engineer.

I want to become a firefighter to save people. High School High Tech has helped me explore career options and learn job skills. As soon as I heard about the RISE Scholarship and applied, I was very happy and felt like I had achieved something good.

Through HSHT, I gained the skills needed to help prepare me for what I would encounter as a college student. Receiving the RISE Scholarship means more to me than I could ever express as someone wanting to pursue a higher education. Being able to attend college with a full year of tuition is not only an important opportunity, but it also takes a weight off of my shoulders that will greatly benefit my future.

As a student with a learning disability, it’s been real tough, but that has never stopped me from fighting for my goals. High School High Tech has always been there for me from the start supporting me any possible way and I’m proud to say that HSHT will always be there for me when I need it.

HSHT has helped me realize that needing support does not make me less capable. It also helped me see that everyone is unique, and just because I may need more help than someone else it doesn’t make me any different. I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone, met new people and made new friends. I’m more comfortable speaking up and believing in myself.

High School High Tech gave me the tools I needed to have the confidence to trust in my own instincts of what I am learning. I am so thankful for this scholarship. This is a jump start to my career—my goal is to become a labor and delivery doctor or nurse and have my own business as well.

I am interested in studying nursing; my goal in life is to become a flight nurse. High School High Tech helped me to learn job skills and interview tips, like what questions to ask and how to dress. Receiving the RISE Scholarship means a lot to me.

I value creativity and perseverance. HSHT supported my academic growth and helped me build confidence, stay focused, and develop skills I know I can use beyond high school. Receiving the RISE Scholarship supports me in reaching my goals and building a successful future, and gives me the opportunity to build a better future and make a positive impact in my community.

High School High Tech has helped me explore the job market and gave me the motivation to really focus more on my career and aspirations. This program has helped motivate me to continue to pursue my career goals.

My goal is to get into FIU to go into nursing program. I have a passion for helping people with compassion and empathy. I enjoy helping people from their lowest and highest moments.

One challenge I have had was anxiety during transitions. I was very nervous thinking about what I would do after high school. I didn’t even know where to start when it came to thinking about college. I learned a lot from HSHT on which college may be the best choice for me. This scholarship helps make my goals feel possible.

I really enjoy hands-on work and want to be a millwright for my career. High School High Tech has helped me plan for the future.

Being part of High School High Tech has given me the opportunity to explore a wide range of career paths and learn about different opportunities I may not have otherwise been exposed to. Through these experiences, I’ve been able to better understand my interests and strengths, which has helped solidify my desire to pursue a career as a veterinarian.

High School High Tech has given me the opportunity to meet new people and have the resources to meet potential employers. I am a first-generation college student, and after completing my nursing and psychology degrees I plan on working as a nurse while going back to school to get my doctorate degree in clinical psychology, with a concentration in neuropsychology.

My goal is now clear: I want to earn my college diploma. I want to prove to myself—and to others who face similar challenges—that having a different way of communicating does not mean your voice is less valuable.

To receive this scholarship has been the greatest opportunity to me. It will forever impact my life in the greater good to pursue my goals and obtain a successful career. Creating movies is a childhood dream of mine and it’s a goal I want to achieve in the future.

Ever since I was a kid, I loved helping people and cooking was my way of doing it. I love learning new ways to cook and new recipes from all over the world. This scholarship gives me the chance to learn through culinary studies.

I was an average kid not knowing what to do with my future until l heard about aviation. After ROTC l realized that my dream was to be a pilot so l could see the world doing what l loved. HSHT helped me self-advocate and understand how to control situations with or without pressure. I know this scholarship will help me get closer to my goal of becoming a commercial pilot.

HSHT helped me build confidence in myself. It helped me learn things that I’m good at and can succeed at just like everyone else, and it has helped me seek out skills I didn’t realize I had. Visiting colleges and other places for employment has also sparked my interest in continuing my education. This is something I never thought would be possible for me.

Through HSHT college tours, I was able to witness campus life firsthand, which allowed me to make an informed decision about where to apply. Also, the HSHT program provided me with a variety of scholarship options and career opportunities, and guided me through the process of writing my own resume, which I can use to apply to any job offer.

My HSHT instructor taught me how to deliver a clear message, maintain eye contact, use appropriate body language, stay focused in conversations, express my interests, and ask for help when I need it. The RISE Scholarship provides me with financial independence to complete my degree and pursue goals like opening my auto shop.

My interest is in pediatric nursing and cosmetology. I have taken the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) class all four years of high school and my plans are to work in a pediatric emergency room. Receiving the RISE Scholarship will help me get started toward reaching that goal.

My journey is defined not by what I lack, but by perseverance. High School High Tech was an instrumental part of this transformation. As a result, HSHT helped me find my voice, turning me from a student who felt behind into a leader. I am a dedicated artist and writer and my goal is to bridge my love of crafts and storytelling into a full-time author career.

I am very happy and proud of myself for receiving the RISE Scholarship. This is a big accomplishment for me, and it will help my family and me financially while I work toward going to college and getting into a career I am interested in. I am very grateful to High School High Tech for this opportunity.

I’m interested in gaming and video game development, and my goal is to learn to code and have a good job. High School High Tech has helped guide me to want to attend college. The RISE Scholarship gives me a chance to follow my dream.

As a student with a disability, I’ve faced challenges with anxiety and confidence. HSHT has helped me develop leadership skills and has supported me by providing a safe environment where I can practice these skills and grow into a more confident leader. I’m interested in art and design and my goal is to keep learning new skills and eventually turn my creativity and technical interests into a career.

Early in my life my family discovered that I was born with ADHD and autism, so I have had more challenges in school than many other students … During a High School High Tech tour of Florida A&M University, the people were very welcoming and didn’t make me feel small. I felt like I had finally found the college for me.