Student profile

Accepted into UCLA

GPA: 3.9

SAT/ACT: 1370

Extracurricular activities: DECA; Interact; Bharatnatyam: South Indian Traditional Classical Dance;Raas: North Indian Folk Dance;Track and Field


Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. 


A message lit up my phone screen. “Hey sorry I can’t make it to the game today so you’re gonna have to be in charge of the cashbox and group” This was the last minute cancellation I received from the Vice President of the Interact volunteering club. I was in shock; I would have to run the concession booth at a University football game as a mere sophomore with no guidance. It was my first time doing this complicated event and as the only officer of the club present, I was forced to teach myself how to run the booth and manage the cash. Although I was the recipient of a couple glares from the supervisors for not having the money counted and ready, I quickly got the hang of it and successfully sold out of hot dogs without losing any money. 


After this  taste of leadership I yearned for a bigger role in the club so I proposed making our club a certifying organization to distribute the Presidential Volunteer Service Award to boost membership. Unfortunately, this idea was brushed away by the Executive Team of seniors at the time. I felt that the hardworking volunteers of my club should be recognized for their efforts so after months of advocating for this system, they let me proceed on the condition that I would be the one to apply and run the system. I jumped at the opportunity and spoke with the school administrators to submit the application. 

Within a month I received confirmation that our club would now be able to distribute the award to worthy future volunteers. That same year I developed a new system to keep track and promote this great opportunity to all incoming volunteers. Over the course of the next few years I watched many underclassmen excitedly work towards this award through extended service hours. Now as the President of the club, I’m grateful that I pushed to make Interact a Certifying Organization which, will become my proud legacy allowing young service people to be rewarded for their dedication.




Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. 


Two mangled pancakes dropped on a plate, alongside a blackened toast and uncooked eggs. Although my mother’s face lit up eyeing the creation of her ten-year-old daughter, I was quite unsatisfied with my work, particularly the presentation. Since a young age, I had a knack for bringing flavors together. However, at first look, friends, and family would rather pass, than even attempt tasting my culinary experiments. One lazy summer, I stumbled upon Food Network and found inspiration to learn the aesthetics of color on a plate. That night, as I stared at the couscous salad I had put together for dinner,  I realized it was still uninviting, at best. "Cranberries!” I thought, as I ran into the pantry and plated them as a perfect contrast to the vibrant green of the parsley. After hundreds of unappetizing dishes, I mastered the art of composition which led me to food photography. I chose to document my concoctions and indulged in making my own cardboard lightbox which highlights the color and texture of my dishes. 

In search of the perfect visual and gastronomical treats, I continuously challenge myself to discover flavor and color pairings. Whether I am traveling to Arizona or Thailand, I’m first to order the most unique item on the menu in hopes of being inspired by the tastes or styling. The dish to best describe the Belizean lifestyle was a fish cooked whole and positioned to stand curved around the perfectly cupped rice mound topped off with a flowing sauce. Before snapping a picture, I ensured the coastal village shack and swaying trees on the beach were in the background to embody the Belizean culture. Each new location has a very unique culture which I highlight in my photographs using carefully selected props. I aspire to take my viewers on a visual journey through the dishes and backgrounds they see. Geometric design and strategic placement of every morsel of food and it's elements is nothing short of art to me. Today, my dishes hold an appeal to the eye, as much as they are for the others senses.




Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. 


Computer science, programming, Java, software. Words like these are casually thrown around in the place I call home: Silicon Valley. I attended both middle and high school less than a mile away from the Apple headquarters, so I was, quite literally, surrounded by engineers. My father is no exception: he works day and night with his trusted laptop, as he spends hours engineering the latest technological breakthrough for his company.


Growing up in this hub of coders, whenever someone asked me the million dollar question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” my answer was: anything but a computer person. I adhered to that vow religiously, not looking twice at any computer course throughout the beginning of school. Then, I received the email that announced a new AP Computer Science Principles course requiring no coding background. My parents were ecstatic at the thought of this opportunity and convinced me to (reluctantly) sign up. Weeks later, my heart filled with dread as I walked into the classroom expecting a class I would have to sit through in boredom.


As the days went by, I surprised myself and found a niche within the field that excited me: cybersecurity and data privacy. I realized that computer science is more than my preconceived notion of programming behind a laptop. Shockingly, I wanted to learn more than what a few out-of-class discussions with my teacher could offer. So, I spent summers interning at GigSky, a startup focused on becoming a global mobile data operator, trying to grasp an understanding of what a future career in the field would look like. Helping with tasks around the office, I began to see that computers are a tool for teamwork and problem solving: some people were overseeing the functioning of programs written by others while some tested how users would interact with the products. All these individual parts would not function without the complex tool that is the computer. Now, whenever someone asks me what I want to do with my future the answer will be: anything to do with computers.



What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? 


Since a young age, I was always the type of child to sacrifice half of my Fruit Roll-up to a comrade eyeing it longingly. I was the one to stay back and help the PE teacher put back all the balls even after the bell had rung. Although as a child I wasn’t able to make a large impact on the world, as I grew so did my talents and they aided me in my ability to give back.

Specifically, my training in Bharatanatyam (an Indian Classical dance form) provided me with a platform to raise money for the underprivileged. With the help of an understanding guru, I was able to learn various pieces and perform them at ticketed shows. I hosted multiple fundraisers which were spectacular successes raising over $4000 to donate to those in need. In addition to raising money to better the community I strongly believe that through performing I can raise the spirits of the community making it a better place. Over the summers I spent time in retirement homes performing small dance items and the smile that lights up the senior citizens watching is enough to tell me I have made a difference. I feel that by dancing for a wider audience I am exposing the  community by making it more aware and educated of the different cultures within. 

So when a candidate for the Cupertino mayoral election asked me to perform at his promotional dinner I was more than happy to oblige. Regardless of where I perform, be it the Barcelona Dance Grand Prix or a small show in a temple, my greatest joy comes from being able to help others in some way simply through a passion I have honed over the course of many years.



What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

During the summer of 2016, I started volunteering for Tulare County’s first Hospice House, called “The Ruth Woods Open Arms House”. This peaceful home, scheduled to open this winter, will be available for those needing end of life care but don't have the resources to live in their own home. At the dedication event for the Open Arms House, I spoke with an elderly couple who said they wished it had been open a year ago when they were unable to provide their family member with 24-hour care. I initially thought that most patients needed this service because they lacked family, but this conversation made me aware this isn’t always the case. I realized that although each family’s situation is different, everyone confirmed that the Open Arms House was giving the community something it desperately needed.

After my dad was diagnosed with cancer, my perspective on the way I was living my life changed. I was spending, or rather wasting, too much time on things in my life that didn't matter. So I said goodbye to the Instagram endorphins and started volunteering for the Open Arms House to give my life a purpose. Many of my responsibilities take place behind the scenes (I can’t begin to count how many toilets, and floors I have scrubbed clean), but what I take most pride in is my contribution to the fundraisers. At one fundraiser, I developed a fun and creative way of purchasing the needed furniture for each room by displaying pictures of the pieces on the wall with an attached price tag. As a result, all six of the $3,000 hospital beds were purchased, and 80% of the needed funding was donated.

When the Open Arms House opens, I will continue working with them to positively influence my community. Through this project, I learned that volunteering keeps me humble and appreciative of all of the hard work and dedication that goes into making a difference in someone else's life. For this I am grateful, and will continue to serve in my community and future campus in whatever way I can.