Empowerly

Student profile

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

I looked up from the front desk monitor to see a disappointed middle-aged man speaking to our assistant manager at [name of store], a new hyper-reality store that combines virtual reality and haptic technology in order to create unique and immersive game experiences. Wearing haptic vests that vibrate during gameplay and trackers on all four limbs, players navigate a sensory-rich environment.    

His group arrived 25 minutes late for the 45 minute session. The experience usually requires this amount of time to gear up and play the full game. Since we had a fully booked schedule, the assistant manager decided we could not accommodate the group.  

“Let’s take four of the six of them into the smaller room since the larger room is occupied,”  I proposed. The assistant manager declined my idea, noting that we had another appointment for the smaller room in 35 minutes. 

I suggested we could gear up the disappointed customers quickly to save time, allowing them to still take advantage of their scheduled time slot. The assistant manager didn’t budge.

I wanted to ensure a positive customer interaction. I summoned my courage, and respectfully told him, "I am going to propose my idea to the general manager really quick." He replied, "He'll say no, but go ahead." 

The manager thought my idea was great and we accommodated the group, who gave us a glowing review online. The manager commended me for my persistence and quick thinking. 

Flexibility is an important characteristic for leaders. The ability to process new information and adapt is an invaluable skill that I have strengthened through managing changes in the booking system for the VR store. I have learned how to troubleshoot to resolve problems, coming up with alternatives that satisfy all parties. The most valuable lesson I learned from my internship experience is that my voice matters and by effectively communicating my ideas I can make a positive impact. My boldness served me well, and I hope to bring this determination to all my future endeavors at the University of California. (342) 

Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

“Hi, my name is [name] and I am with the hospital volunteer services. Would any of you like a warm towel?” I smiled warmly at the woman lying in her bed and her family members in the room. My smile was met with blank faces and silent whispers. I heard “¿Qué quiere ella?” and I realized that they could only speak Spanish. 

I racked my brain to find the right words in Spanish. “Hola me llamo [name] con el hospital. ¿Quieren toallas un poco caliente?” Instantly, I saw their faces brighten as they nodded and said “Si! Si!” with huge smiles on their faces. 

My ability to provide comfort and develop a connection with this large family made my love for learning Spanish grow. The potential of language to bridge gaps between cultures amazes me. From that moment on, I made it my goal to become fluent in Spanish and to continue learning different languages. 

I enthusiastically accepted an opportunity to skip Spanish 3 to advance right into Spanish Honors. I knew that the Honors course focused on communication and fluency -- exactly what I needed to achieve my personal goal. My teacher warned me that I would have to undergo a huge learning curve and would need to study material over the summer. 

That was no problem. I already spent time outside of school completing Duolingo Spanish lessons or listening to Spanish music and podcasts whenever I had free time, so I was ready to work. I am currently in AP Spanish where we speak entirely in Spanish. While I still make mistakes, the thrill of conversing in a second language makes me want to study abroad in Spain.  

The opportunity to skip Spanish 3 seemed daunting at first, but it has been an important step towards my goal of being fluent in multiple languages. I will continue to study languages in college in addition to my major of choice because I think having fluency in languages other than my own helps me gain cultural perspectives necessary to become a better global citizen.  

Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

“You keep hesitating, just do it [name],” my friend [name] groaned. I glared at him, frustrated. As a veteran athlete, he made pole vaulting appear effortless. On the other hand, I had just rammed into the metal bar for the tenth time that practice. 

I did not trust the vaulting pole. I feared hurting myself and was hesitant on the runway. 

At practice before our first track meet, I watched dismayed as my male sprinter friends cleared the bar. [name 2] jumped over an 8 foot bar on his second try. [name 3] sailed over the 9 foot bar three times. How could they be so successful when I still hadn’t cleared the 5 foot bar by my third week? 

Walking home I wondered about gender’s role in pole vaulting. Always an advocate for female empowerment, I felt determined to clear the bar at the next practice because I believed if the boys could do it, I could do it. My disappointment changed into tenacity. The success of others would not bring me down; rather, I would use their success to fuel my ambition. 

I brought this motivation to practice the next day. After some failed attempts, I forced myself to overcome my fear of getting hurt by having faith in the fundamentals. This time, when I leaned back towards the mat and kicked my feet up, the bar stayed in place.

To clear the bar that represented a physical and mental obstacle for me, I had to take risks. I learned to embrace ambiguity, brave through uncertainty and apprehension, and be fearless in the face of the unknown. This risk-taking mindset has helped me excel in my advanced STEM courses because it has helped me be comfortable with failure and persist to achieve success. I didn’t anticipate that pole vaulting would prepare me for academic endeavors or a STEM career. I can now soar as a curious scientist, braving through the uncertainty of research and the challenge of solving difficult problems. I discovered how to push my limits, and to rise, quite literally, to new physical and academic challenges. (349)

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

I thought a pediatrician was the perfect job for me. I believed that being a doctor was the only way to fulfill my desire to help people medically, and I loved working with kids. Then I watched the Disney animated film Big Hero Six and it opened my mind to other career possibilities. The main character Baymax is a squishable healthcare robot that acts as a personal medical assistant. I realized I could still help people medically through technology and robotics. I am fascinated by this potential and want to create devices that positively impact healthcare. 

To explore the nuts and bolts (figuratively and literally) of building robots, I joined my school’s FTC robotics team. There, I learned how to design, prototype, and test devices to implement on our team robot. 

With each mechanism we built, I saw opportunities for medical applications. The robot’s long arm that extended over the two foot wall could function as a robot arm that grabs supplies for patients. The 3D printed wheels could translate to more complicated CAD designs of synthetic organs. Feeling inspired, I designed a 3D printed prosthetic this past summer that acts as a saddle joint between two chicken bones. 

In addition to designing robots for the healthcare industry, I wanted to learn to program them. AP Computer Science helped me understand object-oriented programming and develop my Java coding skills. Additionally, I joined Girls Who Code to participate in a community that encourages and supports women in STEM. I’m currently undertaking a year-long research project focused on the current uses of AI in healthcare. I am fascinated by “Molly” an AI-powered nurse avatar being used to direct patients and a Stanford University study that utilizes an AI algorithm to detect skin cancers.

Using CS for healthcare applications calls for innovation and creativity. I plan to explore the exciting possibilities as I undertake the next phase of my academic journey. Like Tadashi in Big Hero 6 who built Baymax, my goal is to combine my passion for technology and medicine to create a personal healthcare assistant. (346)