When I began high school in the heart of downtown Portland, my daily commutes revealed something I had never noticed before. Nestled in the shadows of Chinatown was a thriving homeless camp, sharply juxtaposed with the abandoned buildings right next door. Although the camp was surrounded by a rainbow of vibrant signs, I saw adults huddled underneath what looked like oversized tables protected only by tarps. What I found most shocking was that despite living along Portland’s busiest road...

Last May I decided to take on leading Oregon’s Global Youth Service Day, a feat that I knew was no simple task. At the time, I had been fixated on the idea of intersectionality within human rights, a realization that nothing is truly independent and every issue instead overlaps in constant flux. Aware that there were other youth-led initiatives addressing different needs outside of my nonprofit, *, I wanted to host an Intersectionality Workshop as a way for all of...

Slow down. Predict. Strategize. Trust your gut. These are the steps you have to take in order to win a game of chess. Growing up, my Saturday nights consisted of an eight by eight chess board, managing to captivate me for hours on end. Through eight hour tournaments and even longer days spent honing in my skills and analyzing different plays, I developed an ability to predict up to ten moves ahead during a game. Even though I only thought...

I’m looking for a school that makes me tick. For a place that thrives on interdisciplinary learning. For a think-tank bustling with leading experts and mentors. For somewhere that encourages me to apply my knowledge beyond the classroom. And, most importantly, for a community that truly understands the power of service-learning and collective impact. As I went through my college search with this checklist in mind, I found that there’s only one school that surpasses what I hope...

"This is your chance to take a risk." While experimenting with cooking in middle school, I realized that the ingredients within my pantry did not have to follow a recipe book—I could skip the milk and create lactose free ice cream using a single banana. With just the right blend of ingredients, the condiments of the latest recipe I’ve created will give you one serving of me. Ingredients 1 ounce of curiosity 2 cups of passion fruit 2 leaves from the...

"What is something about yourself that is essential to understanding you?" CE 400-500. My family legend holds that over hundreds of years, my ancestors immigrated through mountainous terrain from Mongolia to China. In the last few generations, no single family remained in one area, constantly venturing out into unfamiliar worlds in search of nothing but new perspectives and experiences. Resilient, my family continued on, eventually settling over a thousand miles away in the city of Dalian. 1989. Amidst the shouts and...

"What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?" Slow down. Predict. Strategize. Trust your gut. These are the steps you have to take in order to win a game of chess. Growing up, my Saturday nights consisted of an eight by eight chess board, managing to captivate me for hours on end. Through eight hour tournaments and even longer days spent honing in my skills and analyzing different...

"Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (150 word limit)" As the first youth to serve on Portland’s Human Rights Commission (HRC), I was nervous. Despite feeling a strong commitment to the invisible homeless population and vocal youth in my community, I questioned what impact I could have alongside experienced adults. However, I began to realize that each commissioner spoke through their own experiences. Our personal voices were just as important as the decisions we made...

"What matters to you, and why? (100 to 250 words)" On an ordinary Saturday morning three years ago, I was with my Hope For Homeless Club serving home-cooked breakfasts. As I delivered plates piled high with steaming sausages and cereal, I was surprised when a man beckoned me to sit down. “What would you do if you had a brain tumor and no family or friends left?” I couldn’t look up, struggling to imagine having to constantly search for ways to...

"Virtually all of Stanford's undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate -- and us -- know you better. (100 to 250 words)" Dear future roommate, Because it’s impossible to have too much chocolate, the plate of double chocolate chip cookies (my favorite recipe!) beside this note is for you. Anyway, my hometown’s motto is “Keep Portland Weird.” I promise you that although I may not...

My former lacrosse coach, advisory board member for *, and mentor, Shannon, has made a significant impact in my life because she has mentored me and served as an inspiration through a critical stage in my life. I first met her when I played lacrosse my sophomore year in high school. Most of my coaches in the past emphasized how practice and teamwork would lead to winning a game or becoming the best team in the league. However, Shannon was a...

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Author)—publicizes the dangers of a single story Moana (Film)—journey to save her village and culture + best music track Stephen King (Author)—storytelling mastermind The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang (Book)—gripping perspectives To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Book)—empathy is human nature

Poverty and its intersections with education and human trafficking around the world—while developing solutions for China’s urban-rural gap at the Yenching Social Innovation Forum, I was shocked when I realized how similar poverty’s effects on migrant children in Beijing are with youth experiencing homelessness in Portland.

Throughout history, the most successful reforms to improve human rights have been a result of persistent peaceful protests. I wish I witnessed the drafting of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, but I would have added in the right to peaceful protest without threat as Article 31.