I’ve learned over the years that while creating opportunities for myself is exciting, being able to create opportunities for others is even more exhilarating and rewarding. I remember striking up a conversation with classmates who were frustrated by the lack of support my school offered for their STEM fair projects. That day, I left school with one thing on my mind: if there were no mentorship opportunities for my peers, I would create one. In the following weeks, I formed a volunteer club that helped other students through their experimental design, acquired necessary testing equipment, and coached them through an oral presentation. For me, it was fulfilling to know that my peers were getting the opportunity to create and improve their science fair ideas.
Ever since fifth grade,
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I continued programming lights for high school plays and even held a job as a light and sound coordinator for the school district, but I was hungry for more. I wanted to explore programming and learn to illuminate more than just a stage, but also a world where the things I program would make a difference to the people using it. Cornell Engineering would allow me to combine my love for computer science, community service, and education to make a positive impact on others. With my experiences of creating a STEM fair mentoring club and Science Olympiad team, I am interested in developing programs that would make education and other daily tasks more streamlined. The computer science program at Cornell has core CS classes that would give me a strong foundation of computational methods and
Some of my extracurricular activities include Science Olympiad, STEM Academy, International Club, Advanced Academics Club, and Chem Club. During high school I have participated in various community-based organizations, the two most common being Beta Club and National Honor Society. However while these clubs have allowed me to give back to my community in numerous ways, it was strangely not either of these clubs that expanded my interest in the following particular social issue. Rather it was my involvement in Science Olympiad, specifically volunteering to help run a local Elementary school tournament, that expanded my view of the STEM field.
Later that year, I was accepted into Spanish Honors Society, a volunteer based program to help out the Spanish communities near my school along with volunteering to help raise money for organizations that help less developed countries. One particular project that I helped raise money for through Spanish Honors Society, was Project Running Waters. The money raised for this event was donated to help people living in Guatemala receive fresh water through pipe systems that would be built. We raised over one thousand dollars to donate to this cause. Knowing that I can positively impact individuals in my community and in other countries makes me feel like I have grown maturely and am able to understand what needs to be done to make a difference to
Through serving in various leadership roles, I reignited my passion for mentoring and fostering lasting relationships. Particularly as a science teaching assistant, I became a leader and counselor by teaching classes, utilizing metaphors to explain complex science, and encouraging others by relating to their struggles. Also, I discovered the importance of truly being in the moment by being receptive to others’ unvoiced problems. Most notably, this position taught me that we can all learn something new from each other as I experienced before with Abby. All these benefits incited me to create a mentorship program on my college campus that pairs accomplished seniors with younger students. As someone who entered college feeling unprepared, I felt it beneficial for others in similar situations to have a role model whom they can trust for encouragement and
As an ambitious individual, I have tried my best to be a part of activities that amplify my success in the future. In my junior year of high school, I had the incredible opportunity to join a rookie FIRST Robotics team called Wildcat Robotics. FIRST Robotics is an organization founded by Dean Kamen and Woodie Flowers that was created "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology", hence the reason it is called FIRST. I knew joining the team would be an excellent way for me to decide if the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) field was the right path. Although, I've learned more than just science and technology from FIRST Robotics, I've learned the importance of keeping an open outlook.
Just as student mentors are willing to assist elementary school students, corporations and individual professionals must be willing to assist high school and college students. Allotting time and money to those trying to make an impact is a vital step that must be taken. The consequences of this step is well worth the expense, however. By making computer science a part of a student’s day-to-day life, any negative stigma associated with STEM will be lifted.
I then asked him if the youth center has ever considered asking for donations to go towards their funding, and if so what came as a result? He responded by stating that the youth center has indeed received donations in the past from various individuals, none of which though are large enough to have a lasting impact on the organization. Although “they did help ease some of the problems at the time being.”
In her article “Friends Indeed?” Joel Garreau explains that for two decades, online social networks have been touted as one of the finest flowerings of our new era. But what is the strength of ties so weak as to barely exist? Who will lend you lunch money? Who’s got your back?” Technology has overtaken individuals by social media, allowing many people to communicate online rather than having face-to-face communication. Many “relationships” begin online, and end online. Although, true relationships are rarely created fast, it gradually grows and becomes stronger and stronger over the years. However, in our immediate society this is not the case. But the questions still remains, as Joel Garreau points out “Who would lend you lunch money?” in other words, who will help you physically not online. In our impatient society, technologies influenced the way individual communicate, and that often times leads to depression, loneliness and addictions.
So the next year when I was given a board member position I focused solely on volunteering for Friends 4 Hope. Every Thursday was my favorite day of the week, since there were Game Days where we can play games with a small group of Hope students. Soon after these students slowly began to become my friends. To me I was finally glad to be comfortable around my new friends, but to them it meant a lot more. They never were fully accepted into society as regular people, and our club was able to encourage integration of that.
I was fortunate enough to have spent my last two summers as a high school student actively engaged in numerous ways. Two summer ago, I decided to be a counselor of a wonderful enrichment program called Camp Invention, a renowned science camp for young children to explore and invent creatively. During this 40 hour volunteer service, I learned how to handle children with both care and responsibility in a subject I am greatly passionate about. In addition, I also was responsible for my employment as a cook at Hwy 55. During the most recent summer, I attended the NC Governor’s School for Natural Science, a six week residential program that focuses on integrating academic disciplines with the world around us. This was an enlightening experience,
I did my service learning project with Blugold Beginnings as a college mentor at Altoona High school. The project has been impactful to me, because I learned a lot about the struggles of adolescents who experience hardship not only in exploring their identities but also in school and family settings. The service learning project broke the rebellious adolescents stereotype for me and allow me to see each students I work with as individuals and realizing that their problems come from the environment that they live in. I regretted not getting along with the students sooner, and if I had a chance to do this project for the second time, I would want to get to know the students sooner.
For my service learning project I worked with the challenger learning center by helping them get ready, setup, and working with them at their booth during the pumpkins in the park event. This service learning project not only gave me a chance to study myself and how I work and act with new people, but it also gave me a chance to study other people and how they work with the people they know and don’t know. The weird thing about this service learning project that I didn’t realize until I got to the building to volunteer was that I had been to the Challenger Learning Center as a kid. It was really cool get to go back into the place that helped me realized my true passion for science and space. After we were done with our volunteering they let
This previous Summer I had the privilege to work with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind as a program facilitator. Here we provided recreational and vision rehabilitation programming in an inclusive and safe environment for a diverse group of people. We worked with veterans, people with recent spinal trauma injuries, and partially sighted youth, families and seniors. Focusing merely on the partially sighted population I worked closely with, there are a number of issues they face on a daily basis, which they understand is influenced by larger, macro structural and societal forces at play. Some of these issues include, accessibility, communication, participating in athletic and recreational activities and employment opportunities.
A trend I noticed throughout the majority of my volunteer and extracurricular activities was the constant interaction with younger children. Whether it was teaching, tutoring or simply being a friend, the children I encountered all identified me as their role model. Growing up, I never saw myself becoming a doctor or being interested STEM because nobody in my family had ever pursued a science career; I thought it would be impossible. Not having role models available for me to look up to hindered my confidence in excelling in science. As I grew and became more involved STEM
Within Girl Scouts, I decided to create a project to benefit my community in some way for a Girl Scout Silver Award. My project was to create coloring books for a hospital's waiting rooms and form a drive to help fund printing and to collect paper, markers, and crayons. This endeavor allowed me to use my talents to help a hospital that had helped me when I was younger, which left me with a feeling of satisfaction and the desire to serve even more.
Since I was a child I have been a very proactive person. I was always eager to learn new things and had a fast learning ability. During high school I discovered how much I enjoyed the classes that challenged me, forcing me to hone my skills, to think critically, and to innovate. I enjoyed participating in chemistry, biology projects, art projects, as well as those activities that made me feel I was capable of improving. During that time I also got involved in a community service club named: “JMI: Ignacians Young missioners” whose purpose was to help children with limited resources, by sharing educational activities with them, as well as playing and cooking together. Our mission