I never knew pain so palpable. The shock, the hurt, the abandonment was bone-chiseling. The man who has been there for all my ups and my downs had just walked away. I was jettisoned. I was thirteen.
My father had been everything to me. He introduced me to the world of literature, kindled my passion for soccer, and encouraged me to chase my dreams. He was my inspiration, my fountain of energy. When he walked out on my mother and me, I was facing an emotional abyss.
I did not know I had it inside me. The internal struggle was long and hard. However, self preservation eventually triumphed over self pity. Insights and lessons gained in history and literature have also brought me solace.
History and history lessons always make me think and think hard. Ms. Fearns’ discourse on Cultural Revolution was particularly moving that one afternoon. As I tried hard to grapple with the political-ideological issues and at the same time imagine the pains of betrayal, abandonment and cruelty inflicted by friends, brothers, sisters, children, wives and husbands, I realized my personal travails were paltry in comparison. Shouldering the suffering of others assuaged mine.
A little salt in life went a long way to help me savor great works of prose differently. Great works of words are not just great plays on words but great lessons on life. Jane Austen taught me that there are always choices if we have courage, and not hating my dad takes courage. Jeffrey Archer mocked me with his red herrings when I was too quick to judge his characters. It is simply too easy to overlook the better side of people when you know of their flaws. I learned to appreciate the kinder side of my father, which takes even greater kindness on my part. Eileen Chang made me see that the worst happenings in life are never just fate but consequences of the choices we make. My dad made one about his family. I made a better one about him.
As misfortune would not have it, I have the good fortune to have my mom as my mom. She had been always a mere star next to a supernova. When the brightest of the bright burn out, she was still my sole provider of warmth and light. She taught me how to forgive and love in spite of the greater pains and sufferings she had to endure. It is ironic and not without shame that I have only discovered her real worth, steadfast strength, genuine kindness and inner beauty only after such an ordeal. Without her boundless love and gentle guiding hands, I would not have survived this trail.
Adversity also taught me a lot of empathy and a little leadership. It had a wonderful way of making me focus on more constructive endeavors. My academic achievement gained me both self esteem and semblance of security. My sports taught me that if I show respect and considerations for the feelings of others, I will gain trust and friendship over time. It is never the calculus of power and benefits that cement a team; it is mutual respect and emotive bonds. Leadership is about showing support for your teammates not only when they are doing well, but also when they are not. Changing performance instead of performer is sometimes more effective in building a better team in the long run. With five minutes to go and both sides exhausted, morale and motivation can perform miracles. These miracles made me realize that my father will always be part of my team. Just as my fallible basketball teammates deserve support, my father does too.
It gradually dawned on me that love and forgiveness are our only salvation. We can all be unkind, inconsiderate and myopic at times. We can all be confused, greedy and selfish. We are all fallible and imperfect and so very human. The world would be a very cold place if we could not forgive and be forgiven. It is heartwarming to see how so many of the victims of the Cultural Revolution forgave those who victimized them. And it is always the hardest to deal with those closest.
Today, I converse with my father about the history of China, the works of our favorite authors, and the progress of Manchester United. But I reserve my most intimate thoughts and feelings with my mom. I have to thank my father for inspiring me intellectually and artistically. And I have to thank my mom for making me a better person. Perhaps my father too, for making me stronger.

For Georgetown:

I believe most of us are born anthropologists and naturalists. Nothing comes more naturally to children than observing, probing and provoking adults or centipedes. As I have lost none of my childhood fascinations, my early antics have blossomed into passions for social and natural sciences. And Anthropology makes combing these interests into something tangible and tantalizing.

Childhood travels offered me the opportunities to appreciate the unique charms and idiosyncrasies of many cultures, but I want to probe deeper. Seeing how the Japanese would bow instead of kiss twice on the cheeks like the French do to bid farewell whetted my inquisitiveness. I want to know how cultures, traditions and rituals develop. Why is ancestral worship so dominant in Chinese culture and so rare in the west? Why is patriarchy the dominant social form while some of the advanced economies seem to be drifting back towards matriarchy? Will globalization completely homogenize traditional cultures? An education at Georgetown can provide me many of the answers. Though Anthropology is my predilection, East Asian studies, Economics, and World History will also help me gain the breadth and height that is essential to obtain genuine insights.

If I am fascinated by the past, I am equally troubled by our future. As I am alarmed by the downsides of unfettered technological changes, I am even more enthused about the upsides of judicious scientific progress. I am an ardent student of the sciences, who is mesmerized by the beauty of number theories and the mystery of special relativity. I admire the dedication, imagination and creativity involved in the discovery process. These are the things I want to experience myself by taking advantage of Georgetown’s curriculum and inspiring environment.

Even though Anthropology is something I know I want to pursue, there is still so much more I want to learn. Georgetown College’s liberal arts curriculum gives me that opportunity and the freedom to explore. More importantly, Georgetown’s political proclivity and physical proximity to Washington DC make lectures and seminar by world leaders on campus frequent events. It is one thing to read books and yet another to rub elbows and be inspired by seasoned leaders likes the Clintons, Michael Bloomberg and President Obama.

While the curriculum provides insights into the past, the eminent speakers offer insights into current affairs and future trends. With technologies and economic changes galloping forward in unprecedented rates, our cultures and societies will see wholesale transformations. Could cultural evolution keep pace? Would this historical change be the cultural equivalent of the globalized financial crisis? To me, these are Anthropology as much as they are International Affairs. Georgetown is the school that offers me the breadth and depth, the knowledge and inspiration I need to tackle the challenges and opportunities offered by the future. These are the reasons I want to attend Georgetown.

For Georgetown:

I love the environment but unfortunately, failed efforts in the past and private interests have led to the Copenhagen Climate Conference being the last chance for policy makers to cooperate and save our planet from the depths of no return.

I believe in living responsibly, especially to protect and sustain this beautiful world we live in. However, alone there will be no great impact. So, I joined the Green Group at my high school that carried the same beliefs. Skepticism about the effectiveness of our efforts diminished neither my enthusiasm nor my belief in the mission of the group. Instead, it motivated me even more in my work and contribution and eventually, I became the Co-Chairman. Our work may not have been much in the eyes of those who were apathetic, but we believe any impact is still impact that will bring us a step forward in fulfilling our mission. With that in mind, the group attended the International Environmental Conference held at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

The keynote speakers gave some fascinating insights about environmental protection in their respective fields of work. Politicians, businessmen, and environmental enthusiasts were met with dubiety about the reality of their proposed work by the students of the conference. The little insights they provided were not enough for the eager minds that filled the room.

For me, however, the highlight of the conference is realizing the most important environmental concern in different parts of the world. The forest fires in Singapore, the drought in Australia, the sustainable development in England, and the air pollution in Hong Kong were few that were addressed by the respective high schools. They discussed the issues of their own home country, suggested possible solutions and showed us their own efforts. It really was awe-inspiring to see so many young zealot and intellectual minds at work together.
I came back from the conference even more enthusiastic than I was before. The research and the strategies that international participants presented were valuable assets that helped improve and expand the work I did. More importantly, despite the inadequate progress made by world leaders, the conference showed me other fellow young enthusiastic environmentalists, like me, that have not given up on the world yet. Georgetown offers me the wide range of extracurricular activities and a unique location that allows me to act with passion. Eco-action on the campus, internships at NGOs in the city – I have all the opportunities at Georgetown to enforce what I believe in.

For Georgetown:

I love sports and I played varsity Basketball and Netball. I am enthused about helping the disadvantaged and I was VP of Interact Club. I am fascinated about entrepreneurship and I was elected as the CEO of the Junior Achievement startup company. If I have any talent, it would be my passion. I am passionate about playing sports, effecting positive changes around me and creative problem solving in the real-world.
Passion gives me eloquence and power of persuasion as a change-maker and visionary. Observation told me that browbeating people into submission about their un-environmental habits makes few converts. Getting people enthused by my vision of a “Fragrant Harbor” (the original meaning of Hong Kong) is more effective in winning hearts and minds. Therefore, as the co-chairman of Dream Green Team, the environmental group in my school, I opt to convince than to coerce. To keep enthusing others, I also have to keep enthusing myself and not let the skepticism of others dampen my ardor.

My passion also makes me a natural leader. My fervidness about basketball makes me a ubiquitous cheerleader in good times or bad. Enthusiasm drove me to lead by example, and that’s what I did. Those of my class watched me grow as a character and those younger watched me grow as a player. Through pain and sweat, I became captain, and many now aim to do the same. As the captain, I lead by persuasion and inspire by vision. My game is all about building and investing trust in the skills we have acquired in the plays we develop as a team. There can be no team spirit without passion.
Passion also got me through the tough challenges of running a venture business. My enthusiasm and can-do spirit got me elected as the CEO of the Junior Achievement startup company in my school. My fervid depiction of my vision for the company fired up everyone’s imagination and their urge to come up with innovative ideas. My fierce devotion to my team mates fanned up everyone’s sense of ownership and their willingness to work long and hard hours. However, my fervor did not take the pain out of making tough decisions and delivering unpalatable truth. My mission is to fuse creativity with consistency, and fervor with discipline.

It would be unfortunate to have the talent but not the passion. I would be equally disastrous to have the passion but not the talent. But it is hard to tell if one has the talent without trying. With enthusiasm, small talent may be wrought large and large talent wrought larger.
I have a passion for passion.

For GWU:

Similar to other outstanding institutions, George Washington has a diverse student body, great facilities, renowned professors and a unique location. However, for me the defining difference that separates GWU from the rest is its two amazing campuses.

Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon makes George Washington’s location even more unique that it already is. Instead of feeling the constant hectic, you can always dodge the traffic and find a peace of mind. If you’re feeling daring, you can always be adventurous in the cultural city of DC. Students at GWU can have the best of both worlds.

The hustle and bustle of the city can be a distraction, but not for those at George Washington I have come across. With Foggy Bottom as the main campus, students are provided with the likes of a more urban neighborhood. The easy access to libraries and museums provides solid ground for doing research and makes fertile soil for finding inspirations. Abundance of cultural attractions in the city also offers student good complements to the rigor of academic life. As a history buff and an enthusiast for science, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the National Space and Air Museum, and especially, the Smithsonian will be a godsend.
The rapid pace of the city and an urban neighborhood are highlights for most, but even the most energetic needs occasional salubrious breaks. Mount Vernon, located less than 3 miles away, has a more tight-knit community that gives students a sense of belonging. Even with a relatively large student body, you’ll never feel foreign or alone. It is refreshing to have a change of pace and scenery from city buildings to wooded acres with a short walk. Besides the serene environment, the catering services, the rentals, and the sports that Mount Vernon hosts and embodies make it a place I can call home.
Whether it is Foggy Bottom, or Mount Vernon, the students at GWU will still be able to enjoy the balance of a rich academic life and a vibrant social life in the heart of Washington, DC. I want such a balanced life. I want to be a well rounded student. There is no better suited school for me than George Washington University.

For Johns Hopkins:

Is it necessary to know someone’s past, in order to truly understand the person he or she is today?

For an impressionable young oriental, steeped in Chinese classics, and schooled in the occidental literatures, Dr. Temperance Brennan, the fictional character created by Kathy Reichs in Bare Bones, is most impressive in her ability to solve the most elaborate crimes in employing acute observation and forensic anthropology. Her unique ability to extrapolate future behavior from the past patterns is simply awesome. I never thought one can derive so much from someone’s ethnicity and cultural background. After witnessing Dr Brennan’s amazing feats of sifting through individual quirks and idiosyncrasies to zero in on the culprits, I became a steadfast fan and convert. Forensic anthropology became my calling.

I believe most of us are born anthropologists and naturalists. Nothing comes more naturally to children than observing, probing and provoking adults or centipedes. As I have lost none of my childhood fascinations, my early antics have blossomed into passions for social and natural sciences. And Reich’s captivating words make combing both of my interests into something tangible and tantalizing.

Good fortune and fortuity have exposed me to varied cultures with all their unique charms and idiosyncrasies. Seeing how the Japanese would bow instead of kiss twice on the cheeks like the French do to bid farewell whetted my inquisitiveness. I want to probe deeper. I want to know how cultures, traditions and rituals develop. Why is ancestral worship so dominant in Chinese culture and so rare in the west? Why is patriarchy the dominant social form while some of the advanced economies seem to be drifting back towards matriarchy? Will globalization completely homogenize traditional cultures?

If I am fascinated by the past, I am equally troubled by our future. With technologies and economic changes galloping forward in unprecedented rates, our cultures and societies will see wholesale transformations. Could cultural evolution keep pace? Would the majority of us attain some resemblance of “happiness” or “contentment”? Would this historical change be the cultural equivalent of the globalized financial crisis we almost did not survive?

But don’t take me for a Luddite. If I am alarmed by the downsides of unfettered technological changes, I am even more enthused about the upsides of judicious scientific progress. I am an ardent student of sciences, mesmerized by the beauty of number theories and the mystery of special relativity. I admire the dedication, imagination and creativity involved in the discovery process. I just don’t want to be a technocrat. Technocrats of this world may bring science and technology to a new level, but with anthropology, my passion for science can be used to serve mankind, benefiting the world instead of ruining it, because of blind scientific ambition.
The past helps the present and will tell the future. Anthropology embodies the three time periods and combs my passions into one. And that’s why I want to study it.
And yes, it is necessary to know someone’s past to know who he or she is today. But it is far more important to know who he or she wants to be in the future.

For Northwestern:

There are a lot of similarities among great universities, such as having great facilities, renowned professors, and a diverse student body. However, for me, the defining difference is how much professors care for the students – a quality that Northwestern embodies.

While lectures are informative, private discourses with the professors can be even more inspiring. Probing and impromptu questions always throw more light on the original thought process and creative thinking behind the facts. Shorter idea proposition-correction cycles would also enliven the creative process that would beget still better ideas. Knowledge is critical but it’s no substitute for creative thinking. This is the reason I value accessibility to professors in Northwestern so highly.
I had the good fortune to come across teachers that truly cared for the well being of their students in and out of school. Their mentoring imparts in me not just knowledge but also methods, changes not only my analytics but also my vista. When I heard that how many of Northwestern professors really care for the students, I know I have found the right school for myself. Without genuine trust and solid bond between teachers and students, there can be no candid critique and constructive criticism to prepare us for the harsh reality of the outside world. I believe that the inspiring pedagogy of Northwestern’s professors and the unique way Northwestern chooses its students would create such a closely-knit community that will go a long way towards polishing my intellect and realizing my potential.

Northwestern proximity to myriad of museums and libraries also provides solid ground for doing research and makes fertile soil for finding inspirations. Abundance of cultural attractions in the city offers student a good complements to the rigor of academic life. As an art enthusiast who loves textiles, sculptures, and paintings, Art Institute of Chicago, with its world class collections, will be a godsend.

Northwestern’s Quarter System can be tough on the mind and the body. However, it is exactly that that allows students time to explore various courses, and yet still participate in internships and student groups the university has to offer. SEED is one that I am excited about as I was the Co-Chairman of the only active Green Group in my current high school that held events that were similar to those of SEED. Skepticism about the effectiveness of our efforts diminished neither my enthusiasm, nor my beliefs in our mission, as I now want to be part of a unique group like SEED.

Whether it is the curriculum and the student groups, or the location and the community, Northwestern is the school for me.

For Occidental:

Similar to other outstanding small liberal arts colleges, Occidental has a diverse student body, great facilities, and renowned professors. However, for me the defining difference that separates Oxy from the rest is its unique location in the heart of LA.

As a small liberal arts college, Oxy has a tight-knit community that values close relationships between professors and students. Lectures in bigger institutions are informative, but private discourses with the professors can be even more inspiring. Probing and impromptu questions always throw more light on the original thought process and creative thinking behind the facts. Shorter idea proposition-correction cycles would also enliven the creative process that would beget still better ideas. Knowledge is critical but it’s no substitute for creative thinking.

Occidental’s proximity to both Pasadena and Los Angeles is what makes this small liberal arts college stand out. Instead of feeling secluded, there are a myriad of museums and libraries that provide solid ground for doing research and makes fertile soil for finding inspirations. Abundance of cultural attractions in the city offers student a good complement to the rigor of academic life. As a fanatic reader, initiative learner and a fan of the arts, the Huntington Library, the Norton Simon Museum and the new Disney Hall will be godsends.

In addition to the Core Program that puts great emphasis on a true liberal arts education, something even more unique about Occidental is its undergraduate research that I wish I could be a part of. As an ardent student of the sciences, this can pave way for me to experience the dedication, imagination and the creativity involved in the process of scientific discovery. To be able to help, participate and finally present at the Southern California Conference would be my fortune.
Whether it is the curriculum and the research, or the location and the community, Occidental is the school for me.

While we realize your interests may change in college, what are your current academic or intellectual curiosities? (For Occidental)

I believe most of us are born anthropologists and naturalists. Nothing comes more naturally to children than observing, probing and provoking adults or worms. As I have lost none of my childhood fascinations, my early antics have blossomed into passions for social and natural sciences. Anthropology makes combing my interests into something tangible and tantalizing.

Good fortune and fortuity have exposed me to varied cultures with unique idiosyncrasies. Seeing how the Japanese would bow instead of kiss twice on the cheeks like the French do to bid farewell whetted my curiosity. I want to probe deeper. I want to know how cultures and traditions develop. Being in a traditional Chinese family, I follow conventional rituals every festival and live by the Chinese values indubitably, but now I find myself asking the simplest, yet most fundamental question: Why? Why did Chinese conform to the cultural beauty of foot-binding? Why did men once have long braids? Why do married couples have to give out red packets? Why?
If I am fascinated by the past, I am equally troubled by our future. With technologies and economic changes galloping forward in unprecedented rates, our cultures and societies will see drastic transformations. Could cultural evolution really keep pace?

I am alarmed by the downsides of unfettered technological changes, but I am even more enthused about the upsides of judicious scientific progress. I am an ardent student of sciences, mesmerized by the beauty of number theories and the mystery of special relativity. I admire the dedication and imagination involved in the discovery process, but I don’t want to be a technocrat. Technocrats of this world may bring science and technology to a new level, but with anthropology, my passion for science can be used to serve mankind, benefiting the world instead of ruining it, because of blind scientific ambition.
Anthropology embodies the past, present, future and combs my passions into one.

Something Interesting about you: (For Yale)

Leadership isn’t just about being on top and having all the power and authority over a particular group, or party; it is about teamwork.

For over a period of 18 weeks, I was elected to be the CEO of a simulated company in our school for the Junior Achievement Company Program. I was proud to have earned such a position, but I was soon to learn the hard way that being on top is not as glorious as it sounds.

Every week for 2 hours I stood before a group of 22 high school students, all with individual minds of their own, waiting to contribute their ideas and thoughts to the development of this company. I felt I needed to listen to everyone’s opinions to be a good leader, but instead it made everything worse. Listening to one, I had to listen to another. I wanted to be fair.

Before long, inner conflicts began to rise and problems of the company surfaced. Such a rigorous activity like Junior Achievement needed dedicated commitment and like any other company, ours needed better communication. The process of self-improvement is easier said than done, but as the leader I had to set an example. Being CEO meant more than just overlooking the progress of each department, I had to keep everyone motivated and instill hope and creativity in the hearts of all the members, even during the hardest times.

It is no doubt that many of my friends were also part of the company; however, these personal relationships cannot get in the way. To be respected, I had to be worthy of it. Positions had to be earned through hard work, just like in the real world. This also included gossips and rumors that were ubiquitous about my performance as a CEO, my executive decisions and overall progress of this entrepreneurial business. At the beginning, these false claims got to me, and sometimes I felt betrayed, but I’ve been through that before; I had to keep standing even when members walk out on me. Instead of confrontation, I simply did better. I didn’t dismiss any of these gossips or rumors, because their existence reflected the feelings of many in the company. They were inevitable; everyone do things differently.
We all know everyone shares different opinions, but in this world, it isn’t always a democracy. Listening, as I previously thought, may be vital, but at times executive decisions were a more practical solution. I had learned to balance the ideas and opinions contributed by the company with the power I possessed. Family and friends are still fascinated by the position I had once held, vicariously living the excitement of the power. I agree. It was an experience of a lifetime, but not because of the power. The power did not teach me how to listen to others, or keep the company motivated; it was the teamwork.