His golden iconic political comb-over mimicked the perfect ocean wave. His chiseled jaw-line cut sharper than his daunting glare. He was the living reincarnation of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Trent Folk: he screamed hard-pressed politics, courageous leadership, and raw potential.                Beside him, I was Shrek, choking people with the sight of me. Flashback to fall 2016, sitting in the school conference room, I pointed at Mr. JFK, claiming him as my partner for the 2017 Model UN circuit. Though Trent had no experience,...

His golden iconic political comb-over mimicked the perfect ocean wave. His chiseled jaw-line cut sharper than his daunting glare. He was the living reincarnation of JFK, Trent Folk: he screamed hard-pressed politics, courageous leadership, and raw potential. Beside him, I was Shrek, choking people with the sight of me. Flashback to 2016, sitting in the school conference room, I pointed at Mr. JFK, claiming him as my partner for the 2017 Model UN circuit. Though Trent had no experience, I was confident...

When elementary school teachers asked me what I wanted as my superpower, I’d always responded with this unconventional power: impressing the ladies. In pursuit of this elusive superpower, I looked for weapons to add to my arsenal. First, I focused on my butt-kicking skill. Mastering Taekwondo, Kendo, and Hapkido through nine years of training, I learned not only how to fight, but also how to meditate and prepare my mind for the romantic battlefield. To accompany my fighting skills,...

A styrofoam model of Saturn hung over me as I slept. Years later, the model turned into wallpaper decorations of the Trifid Nebula and then into the Muscular System Anatomical Chart. My whole life, I have been surrounded by the life sciences. Beyond my room, I joined my high school’s prestigious Science Technology and Research Scholars (STARS) program, eventually I was elected onto the STARS council in charge of organizing science fairs and NIH lectures. Inspired, I joined my...

Teachers, students, and administrators stared blankly at me. Behind me, etched in white chalk, read “STUDY CIRCLES.” “Welcome!” Cue: dead silence. Even the staff members didn’t want to be in that room. But, my mission was to make people want to be in Room 206. As a facilitator for Study Circles, a program created by the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Equity Initiative Unit, I’m tasked with leading sensitive conversations about racist, sexist, and/or homophobic bias within the...

Every morning as I drive up to the student drop off, Dad always asks me to repeat his personal motto: work hard, play hard. My whole life has been about living up to this motto, spending hours in the local library studying for my classes, before participating in extracurriculars, like church lock-ins spent creating and breaking friendships over the Settlers of Catan board game. And, so I’m looking to attend a college that embraces this same philosophy. At Duke,...

Sitting in the cramped backseat of the SUV, I noticed Mom glaring at me through the rearview mirror. Oh shoot. I was wearing Dad’s Hoya Saxa t-shirt. Dad noticed too, and smirked. As if to purposefully escalate the situation, Dad uncovered his faded G-Town hat from the glove compartment. “Young! What majors are you thinking about!” Dad already knew my answer, but he could never pass up an opportunity to pester Mom, a GWU alum. “Biology of Global Health...

Even the staff didn’t want to be in that room. But, my mission was to make people want to be in Room 206. As a facilitator for Study Circles, a program created by the Montgomery County Public Schools Equity Initiative Unit, I’m tasked with leading sensitive conversations about racist, sexist, and/or homophobic bias within the school environment. Montgomery County is known for its wealth and education system, however the county is not as homogenous as it seems. Through...

1. As an intern for the GW Hospital, I spent my summer chasing my mentor, Dr. Yang, around the entire hospital. One particular experience I’ll never forget is following Dr. Yang into the operation room (OR). Despite the high-risk lung lobectomy taking place, the doctors seemed unperturbed, calmly explaining to medical students how smoking causes lungs to literally turn black. Soon, after the surgery, I even found my own hands in the da Vinci robotic machine that the previous surgeons...

1. As a facilitator for Study Circles, a program created by the Montgomery County Public Schools Equity Initiative Unit, I’m tasked with leading sensitive conversations about racist, sexist, and/or homophobic bias within schools. So, here I was, facilitating difficult conversations at Damascus High. An hour in, a junior, began expressing how he felt left out because of de facto discrimination: “Everyone sits with people who look like them during lunch. It’s like segregation.” “So, let’s think of...

As I walked down the snow-covered sidewalks of Tower Road, I contemplated which landmark to take a picture with first. Mcgraw Tower and its chimes? Sage Chapel? Or a selfie with Ezra Cornell? I was able to snap quick photos with the first two, but was called away by my Model UN (MUN) sponsor before I could take additional photos. Sophomore year, I had the opportunity to compete in the Cornell Model UN Conference. So, when I traveled to Ithaca...

As I walked down the snow-covered sidewalks of Woodland Walk, I contemplated which landmark to take a picture with first. Love statue? Gothic Revival-inspired College Hall? Or a selfie with Benjamin Franklin? I was able to snap quick photos with the first two, but was called away by my Model UN (MUN) sponsor before I could take additional photos. Every year since freshman year, I’ve had the opportunity to compete in the Ivy League Model UN Conference. Each time...

Lawyer. No, Doctor. Why not both? By pursuing both molecular biology and political science, I can take advantage of Yale’s educational opportunities to broaden my abilities to help others. While my interests were spurred initially by Suits and Grey’s Anatomy, they grew steadily as I found myself wearing a white lab coat for my STEM internships one day and then suiting up for congressional briefings the next day. Through my experiences, I’ve found that these two pathways...

“This place will make you love reading more than your own mother.” This twelve-word statement engraved in hieroglyphs at the entrance of Sterling Memorial Library truly sold me on Yale. Yale’s values for intellectual fulfillment is definitely reflected by the 15.2 million volumes of literature held on campus. These books are not just books, they are historical artifacts that Yale students can gain wisdom and knowledge from (obviously with latex gloves and perfect room climate control). Just by walking into...

Nature inspires me to live life to the fullest. By watching the sunrise or the stars in the night, I am inspired to cherish the beautiful phenomena in life that are often taken for granted.

I’d invite Sir Archibald McIndoe and ask, “How did you muster the courage to perform a seemingly unknown skin graft procedure on the burnt pilots knowing it may threaten your life and career?”

Comparative Healthcare Systems and Their Influences from Governments and Cultures

Back at home, they call me Microwave Chef. Learning from hours of “cooking,” I’ve perfected the craft of making flawless Chef Boyardee, Mac & Cheese, and Ramen cuisine, turning instant into gourmet.

Every Saturday, from 10 am to 3 pm, I can be found at my church. As a crew member of the American Wheat Mission, I’ve developed close-knit relationships with students with disabilities and organized a Saturday school program teaching basic American Sign Language. After years of volunteering, I was rewarded by a remarkable friendship with one of the students I taught. Marked by the times we tried to unclog toilets flooded with toys and rolls of tissues and made cookie friendship...

The concept of college has changed for both students and universities. For some students, college has turned into an unavoidable debt; for some universities, college has turned into a business. In the meantime, the true meaning of education has lost its significance.

For the past two summers, I spent my time working for my local congressman, Honorable John Delaney. I spent hours commuting to reach communities that slammed doors in my face. I was also tasked to be the technological bridge between the senior volunteers’ burners and our sleek computers.

It would have been truly amusing and eye-opening to see how animals were named after the creation of the world. In Genesis, God gave Adam the power to name the creatures in the garden, and I wonder why Adam named the giraffe a “giraffe” instead of “long-neck yellow-spotted deer!”

Quirky, Heuristic, Ebullient, Perseverant, Willing

I’m a self-made super sleuth, taught by the famous investigator’s code, the Sherlock Holmes series. I also enjoy reading self-improvement books (Make Your Bed). When I have free time, I choose to watch Korean melodramas, mockumentaries (The Office, etc.), and occasionally Naruto.

During summers, I look forward to riding my bright red and white striped 8-speed road bike down Campus Drive from Governor’s corner to Green Library, soaking in the bright Californian sun. During winters, I see myself running frantically in Stanford’s underground tunnels with friends, attempting to map the labyrinth.

Oftentimes in a world pressed for time, it’s crucial that people take the time to slow down. By allocating an extra hour to meditation, my mind will catch up, allowing me to reflect and learn what I can do to make the next day better.

In fourth grade, I traveled to Annapolis to watch the parade of navy and white march down to Worden Field. The moment when I saw the men breaking through the heavy mist that rose from the Chesapeake, the midshipmen became my childhood heroes. And on that day, my passion ignited and continually grew. When others wore their mask and cape on Halloween, I wore my Party City blue camouflage to school. When others waited hours to watch Marvel and DC...

I am extremely grateful to live in a time that revolves around a digital world. If it were not for this online application, I may have not been able to “really” apply for the appointment through a handwritten letter. My biggest weakness in the past was simple: my horrific handwriting. Most times, english teachers complain, but I felt as if every department at my school had complained at least once about my horrid hand-writing. It was my kryptonite. One time,...

Teachers, students, and administrators stared blankly at me. Behind me, etched in white chalk, read “STUDY CIRCLES.” “Welcome!” Cue: dead silence. Even the staff members didn’t want to be in that room. But, my mission was to make people want to be in Room 206. As a facilitator for Study Circles, a program created by the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Equity Initiative Unit, I’m tasked with leading sensitive conversations about racist, sexist, and/or homophobic bias within the...

In sixth grade, I traveled to West Point to watch the parade of gray march down at the Parade Grounds. The moment when I saw the men breaking through the heavy mist that rose from the Hudson, the cadets became my childhood heros. And on that day, my passion ignited and continually grew. When others wore their mask and cape on Halloween, I wore my Party City green camouflage to school, mimicking the marches I saw when I was eleven....