I would like to begin by thanking my donors once again for granting me the incredible opportunity to attend my program. The idea that wonderful people took time and money to ensure I attend a program that I now hold very high on the scale of life changing experiences is phenomenal.

Prior to attending my iD Tech program with the help of Wishbone, I was not very sure of what I wanted to pursue with my life. Since my introduction into the Uncommon school system in the fifth grade, I found school to be easy for me. I can get high grades and complete whatever assignment is given to me and meet the high expectations set out by my parents, teachers, and peers. When I entered high school however, I found that not knowing what I really wanted to commit my time to made the whole process of attending school monotonous. I attended school knowing that I was going to continue to get high grades, but I found I didn't really know why. I knew it was to ensure I attended a great college, but why? iD Tech answered this question.

Among not knowing what I wanted to do with my life, I was, and still am, in love with video games. I knew there were jobs associated with this, but I never really looked into the possibility of having one of those positions. Attending iD Tech solidified my understanding of video games and how I could apply them to my life. I learned the process of 3D level design and my instructor explained that doing it is very much a profession and a part of game development that is necessary to keep the culture alive. I am now entering my junior year of high school with an end goal in mind for college and my life as an adult. iD Tech very much helped me realize that I would love to be a part of game development, whether it be as a 3D level designer or fulfilling any other role associated with game development.

Over the summer, I will be attending a session of 3D level design utilizing Team Fortress 2. This is simultaneously a very exciting moment of my life and a very important part of my life. This is the first time that I will pursue something I have always been passionate about. This experience can either set in stone what I would like to spend my life doing or encourage me to keep on exploring. Either way, ID Tech is offering an opportunity to spend some of the summer taking part in an experience not many 16 year old teenagers living in Queens or Brooklyn normally participate in.

I am looking forward to meeting other people my age who share a similar passion related to engineering and technology in general. This is very exciting considering that there are not as many opportunities for students at my school who are really interested in these topics. Outside of my small group of friends, not many other people aspire to be game developers or mechanical engineers and Wishbone and ID Tech are allowing me to expand this horizon and find others who feel the same.