When I place the wheat in my mouth, I transform into someone else. A crazy sparkle adorns my eye, and I begin to slouch. Saddle up, pardners. Farmboy Luc’s in town now, and I reckon he ain’t leavin’…until I remove the wheat. Using a single prop, I can switch in and out of character at will. I learned the secret to role-playing from my middle school theatre instructor: “Don’t just play your character. Be your character....

Computer Science and Psychology, Cognitive Science, Mathematics and Philosophy Ever since I started teaching myself music theory, I've been fascinated by how brains and machines process information, musical or otherwise. I could discuss philosophical questions about cognition and AI (Can machines emulate emotion? Creativity? Language?) all day! At Yale, I'd like to conduct research with Dr. Brian Scassellati at the Social Robotics Laboratory, studying the application of human social cognition and behavior to AI. Through Yale's interdisciplinary research, I'll bridge...

My favorite Spanish assignment was “Intersecciones,” an essay about my future plans. I have it taped to my wall so I don’t forget my aspirations. Here’s an excerpt (translated into English): In the future, I’ll be a cognitive scientist...I’ll play jazz clarinet, saxophone, and flute...I’ll write music for indie films and games...I’ll be an advocate for education and diversity in our divided world. When I read about Yale’s "spirit of...

Jazz innovators like Dorothy Ashby (harp), Stuff Smith (violin), Buddy DeFranco (clarinet), and Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet) who pushed musical boundaries on instruments other people deemed too obsolete for post-'40s jazz. As a jazz clarinetist and composer, I intend to continue their work.

"Mr. Turing, thank you for your insights on human cognition and artificial intelligence. Please tell us about your experiences with homophobia and persecution. What do you think about LGBTQ+ rights around the world today? About LGBTQ+ inclusion in STEM? Looking forward, what still needs to be done?"

PHIL 492 / MUS 454, Aesthetics of Music: (Post)modernism, Audience, (A)tonality, Silence, and Culture

Whether it's burgers, skewers, or Vietnamese lemongrass pork, I'll grill anything. As the Tigard Band Boosters' student cook, I'm always raring to barbecue something new! At Yale, I'll organize cookouts and outings with my suitemates. Hopefully, they'll share some new recipes to try out!

In middle school, band students had two options: get private lessons or flunk out. My middle school band director often said, "You're never going to make it in music without outside lessons." No one else in my family was a musician, and we couldn't afford the fancy lessons, solo competitions, honor bands, and private orchestras the other kids would boast about. But I refused to let financial barriers obstruct my curiosity toward music. Instead of private lessons, I scoured the...

Tigard Public Library was always my second home. My family never had the time or money for Chuck-E-Cheese's or Oaks Amusement Park trips, so instead little two-year-old me explored the board books, phonics videos, and educational events the library had to offer. I never quite lost that bond with TPL—it's my go-to spot for studying (often with friends!), doing research for assignments, and just reading about whatever catches my interest (philosophy of mind, proof theory, music composition, artificial intelligence...). ...