One day this year, as I was walking by my perpetually empty locker, I was struck by an idea. I cannot identify what sparked its conception, but as my idea started to grow, thinking of possible solutions and analyzing and assessing feasibility issues began to consume me. My father calls this a "designer's high," and it was very familiar to me. I’ve experienced it often while collaborating with my robotics team, and in the hours I’ve spent with...

I am fascinated by mechanical devices, intrigued by science, and love creating and building. Thus, it was natural for me to join Windward’s robotics team. One of the most valuable insights I’ve gained as a team member is the significance of paradigm shifts and their relevance to innovation. Often, we discovered the most elegant solutions only after questioning our initial presumptions. I experienced how group interaction and the collaborative process provide a great platform for the exchange of...

My academic interests encompass mathematics and the sciences. My objective is to obtain a strong academic foundation to pursue, support, and nurture my passion for creativity in design. Engineering is an outlet for me to explore my creativity and apply it in productive and meaningful ways. During my internship at Boeing, I shadowed professional mechanical engineers and, in doing so, gained a more complete understanding of what being a mechanical engineer entails. I was impressed by the wide range of...

I first learned about Rice through family friends, who were visiting Los Angeles from Houston. I told them of my interest in studying engineering, and they insisted I consider Rice. As I researched the school and learned more about it through college fairs and conversations with my college counselor, my desire to attend increased substantially, especially after reading about Rice’s liberating honor code and unique residential college system. Further investigations led me to realize quite clearly why my friends...

With the downturn in both the economy and the housing market six years ago, my father, who was an architect and a developer, had to change entrepreneurial gears, which led him to develop his unique concept for prefabricated homes. The struggles of running a start-up company put my family in a difficult financial situation, but I feel lucky to have observed the development of a great idea from basic, foam-core models in our basement, to the building of a remarkable...

I believe that cross-pollination of ideas is the foundation of innovation. At Northwestern, the strong collaboration not only within, but also between different fields fosters an environment conducive to solving today’s most complex problems. Such problems exist within a global context and can only be solved by teams of creative people working together. I plan to take advantage of Northwestern’s abundant cultural immersion and study abroad opportunities to feed my passion for learning about cultures, as well as...

As an aspiring engineer, I believe that cross-pollination of ideas is the foundation of innovation. At Carnegie Mellon, the strong collaboration not only within, but also between different fields fosters an environment conducive to solving today’s most complex problems. These problems exist within a global context and can only be solved by teams of well-rounded, creative people with diverse perspectives. I plan to take advantage of Carnegie Mellon’s abundant cultural immersion and study abroad opportunities to feed my...

In 2015, I read three books for pleasure: Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris, Submarine by Joe Dunthorne, and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho; I am currently reading Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, a book recommended to me by my father, has inspired me to pursue and understand the treasures of my “Personal Legend.”

My school’s robotics team has a clear philosophy: “student designed, student built.” Unlike many other teams, our team designs and builds robots with no direct involvement from our mentors; thus, the students are left to explore solutions and build the robots themselves. This prompts students to participate in a highly productive and collaborative design process. Students learn more effectively when they discover the solutions themselves. The most valuable insight I’ve gained as a member of the team is...

As an aspiring engineer, I believe that cross-pollination of ideas is the foundation of innovation. Because I want to be part of a community of innovators who actively envision the future, I must widen my range of skills and further develop my global awareness. Our new and complex world, with its new and complex problems demands solutions. The enormity of the today’s issues and the intricacies of our social, economic, and political world requires new generation of solutions. I...

My high school offers two “scholar programs:” STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), for students who are passionate about these fields, and Global Scholars, which prepares students to become active global citizens. Attempting to be a part of both programs is highly discouraged because students enrolled in the programs are asked to fulfill a series of rigorous academic and extracurricular requirements. Because of my strong interest in both subject areas, I wanted take advantage of the opportunities offered by...

After the Voices Program, I stayed two additional nights with friends, who are Tufts students. I realized I finally mastered my disguise as a first-year student when I asked a student why he chose Tufts and he returned the question. Here is my response: I’m here because of the profoundly collaborative and liberal arts lens through which Tufts professors teach the engineering curriculum. My ideas for the future will require not only imagination, but also responsibility and global perspective;...

At seventeen, my parents emigrated from Iran in search of a better education and greater opportunities. They prioritized education for themselves and now do the same for my two brothers and me–often making sacrifices to ensure we receive a high-quality education that we could use to significantly impact society. My parents believe that a strong educational foundation is the key to overcoming life’s inevitable obstacles. Six years ago, the downturn in the economy and the housing market led...

Before I step into a fifty-gallon, slushy mixture of ice and water and my half-naked teammates step into their own, I feel apprehensive. As the biting cold numbs my body and the almost comedic screams of my weary teammates become a hum in the background, I am drowned by a single question: “Why do I keep doing this?” I certainly don’t subject myself to the agonies of running for some mythically blissful feeling at the end of a race....

I believe cross-pollination of ideas is the foundation of innovation. With its diverse educational programs, excellent resources, and unique opportunities, Johns Hopkins promotes an exchange of ideas among various disciplines. This positively charged environment would cultivate my problem-solving skills and prepare me to join the future generation of creative thinkers. Hopkins’ open curriculum and interdisciplinary study options would allow me to forge a well-balanced educational platform tailored to my interests. It would afford me a knowledge base with creativity and...

Hey, man. I’m writing to you wearing a pair of black gym shorts and an old, loose, white shirt from one of my old soccer teams. I promise I like to dress well during the day, but the moment I get home, I get very comfortable very quickly. My mornings at home typically start with a cup of my mom’s floral Persian tea, but it’s looking as though I’m only going to get that on school...

Languages fascinate me. My first language was Farsi, but I ended up losing my ability to speak it after kindergarten. As I got older, I began to understand the importance of my family’s linguistic heritage. In order to relearn Farsi, I asked my parents to exclusively speak Farsi at home. I studied Mandarin Chinese in middle school simply because it was so different from any of the other languages that were offered. I reluctantly had to give up Mandarin...

I have been very fortunate in life; nevertheless, I am worried about others who have been raised in less ideal circumstances. This concern is not merely about the social, economic, and physical discomfort that less fortunate individuals may experience in their lives. No one can deny how the resources and opportunities offered to individuals can drastically change the shape of their futures. My concern is the significant loss of individual human contribution. It is remarkable how humans, in the last 35,000...

I have always been fascinated by mechanical devices and intrigued by science. I also love creating and building things. Thus, it was natural to get involved in Windward’s robotics team. One of the most valuable insights I gained was the significance of paradigmatic shifts and their relevance to innovation. We discovered the most elegant solutions often after we questioned our presumptions. I experienced how group interaction and the collaborative process provide a great platform for the exchange of ideas,...

2015: Interned at Boeing’s Satellite Development Center, took AP Spanish, helped coordinate Windward’s Robotics Camp, toured colleges and enjoyed the Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco 2014: Immersion trip to Cádiz, Spain and studied Spanish 3 at Santa Monica Community College. Both summers I worked at Proto Homes.

The current practice of “teaching to the test” has conditioned millions of students and teachers to believe that success is synonymous with getting the “right answer.” How many aspects of life have one answer? Solving 21st Century problems will require an educational system that values creativity and critical thinking skills.

In recent years, my family traveled to San Francisco to explore the city and attend a music festival: Outside Lands. Some highlights include feeling the warmth off of Paul McCartney’s pyrotechnics as he performed “Live and Let Die” and eating the best tater-tots known to man with my older brother.

I would have liked to have been there, on the moon, when Neil Armstrong stepped out of the Lunar module. As he literally stepped into the unknown, I imagine that the billions of people watching felt unified, inspired, and hopeful–even if only for a moment.

With the downturn in both the economy and the housing market six years ago, my father, who was an architect and a developer, had to change entrepreneurial gears, which led him to develop his unique concept for prefabricated homes. The struggles of a start-up company put my family in a difficult financial situation, but I feel lucky to have observed the development of a great idea from basic, foam-core models in our basement, to the building of a remarkable factory...

One day, as I was walking by my perpetually empty locker, I was struck by an idea and I still cannot identify what sparked its conception. As my idea started to grow, thinking of possible solutions and analyzing and assessing feasibility issues began to consume me. My father calls this a "designer's high," and it was very familiar to me. I have experienced it often while collaborating with my robotics team, and in the hours I have spent with my...

I have had many amazing mentors who have inspired and guided me. I aspire to be a mentor and a teacher to younger kids, especially to those who are educationally under-privileged. As part of the STEAM (“A” is for “Arts”) program at my school, I go to local elementary schools and participate in their STEM nights, which are intended to get the kids excited and interested in STEM related subjects and fields. I also help lead a science club that...

My academic interests are in mathematics and the sciences. My objective is to obtain a strong academic foundation to pursue, support, and nurture my passion for creativity in engineering. I plan to further develop my engineering passion at USC because of the outstanding opportunities offered to Viterbi students, the school’s unique teaching philosophy, and its close proximity to the community and the network that I have begun to develop in the Los Angeles area. I also plan to fully...

As part of Windward’s robotics team, I have participated in many tournaments. Our team has a clear philosophy: “student designed, student built.” Unlike many other teams, our team designs and builds the robot with little to no participation from our mentors; thus, the students are left to come up with solutions and build the robot on their own. This policy has caused the students to participate in a highly productive and collaborative design process. Our mentors believe that the...

I have always loved exploring innovations, new visions, and creative concepts. This summer, my brother, who is a volunteer at TEDx, introduced me to ted.com/talks, a collection of well curated presentations on a variety of subject matters. The common theme of all the talks is innovation and new “ideas worth sharing.” The first time I was browsing the site, I was immersed in four hours of nonstop journey in the depth of some of the most interesting ideas...