Nearly half a decade ago, I spent the last $20 I earned delivering Chinese food while finishing school to buy a pair of tan khakis from a thrift store to go with my red bowtie and light blue dress shirt for an interview the following morning. A recruiter set up the interview quickly earlier that week, and I focused on being motivated and ready in the short time I had to prepare and research the company. Being in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, this opportunity felt like the boon I was looking for to better support my family. I wanted to be BOLD.Muffled under a blue disposable surgical mask, my interviewer looked up at me and said, "Wow!" after reading my resume, then let it drop. I will never forget the feeling of pride and accomplishment I felt when it glided effortlessly across the table to stop in front of me. Luckily, they couldn't see my growing smile as I looked down to read the story of my career that had wowed them, lest I might have seemed overconfident and risked losing the opportunity. My mask hid my smile, which continued to grow as I realized the interview was going swimmingly.I had worked hard to create a strong history of paid internships, honor societies, competitions, certifications, projects, and club participation. I began with physics and optics at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where I studied photolithography as an intern. Soon after, I was performing photometric testing for one of the leading innovators in LED lighting. By the time I held a degree, I had already been working as an electrical engineer with industrial lasers for a year, and I was hooked.I am very lucky to have worked with people I admire. I continued to achieve my goals while working full-time as an engineer and working on my third degree at UMASS Lowell as a part-time student. Later at the same position, I began pursuing a fourth degree at SNHU. My journey reflects my commitment to continuous learning and personal growth.