Empowerly

Student profile

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

“From 8A, we have [name] and [name]!” Surely I was hallucinating. They selected me as a finalist for the annual speech fest. My presentation had gone well and I felt comfortable speaking in front of familiar classmates. A week before I would compete in front of the entire school, I felt terrified. I refined my speech, memorized every word,  and listened to my recorded voice, practicing in front of the bathroom mirror.  

I trembled walking up the grand stage. I began, but all that came out was a squeal. I started again, this time improving from squeal to crack, but I persisted.  The introduction was shaky, but as I progressed, I forgot about the crowd and focused on the speech. It seemed as if a completely different person had taken over. Cheers and applause shook the auditorium. I hadn’t won, but the vibe in the auditorium made me realize that addressing the crowd wasn’t so scary; it was just that I had never done it before.

When I began high school, I took advantage of opportunities to speak at cultural and student talks. I became active in the MUN club and represented my school as a key delegate at Chennai and International MUN conferences,, which opened up opportunities to travel and learn from the diversity of students hailing from across India’s 29 states.

“After the voting procedure, there is a clear majority with 48 for, 18 against and 3 abstaining delegates; hence the resolution authored by the delegate of Venezuela passes.” With these words from the chair, spoken at a MUN competition last year,  a once timid boy who feared speaking in front of a large crowd, had authored and passed the sole resolution in committee.

I had achieved what I never imagined.  I had authored a resolution that had passed in the General Assembly as Venezuela, a country with little power. Back in middle school, I had feared starting something when I was uncertain.  But as I kept going, I discovered that my consequent development is the most exciting part. 

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

I grew up in Silicon Valley where computer science and technology companies dominate the world. My parents work on their laptops to build the latest software systems.  In middle school when someone asked, “What do you want to be in the future?” I answered, “Anything, as long as it involves touching a computer.”  

However, mechanical robots fascinated me the most. I loved to build them and watch them move. Later when I attended a residential school in India, there were no opportunities to continue developing my robots, so I started a Robotics Club.  

Initially, I created a basic curriculum focusing on do-it-yourself robots. I moved on to building robots that take soft instructions from humans. I pursued online classes to learn Arduino, C# and Python programming. I signed up for Informatics Practices, a college elective that my high school offered.  Then, I interned at [name of company], a Holosuit R&D startup focusing on changing the way people learn and interact in real and virtual worlds.

I moved my hands in front of the Kinect sensor hoping to see the humanoid robot replicate my actions. For the hundredth time, nothing happened. Undeterred, I discovered an unwanted code block that prevented the robot from understanding the Kinect’s input. Upon removal, the robot waved its arms, as I waved mine. That moment was the highlight of my internship.

It thrilled me to land at an intersection where I could use my Math and Physics skills, along with my programming skills to control my robot. I estimated the body joint angles and mapped them with servo motor goal positions of the humanoid robot. I imagined using this interdisciplinary approach to create a traffic police robot and plan to further my research by adding finger tracking using Holosuit gloves to help people with hearing disabilities. 

Through my experience at [name of company], I not only furthered my knowledge in Computer Science but also brainstormed ideas on how to apply this technology. Now, whenever someone asks me what I want to do with my future the answer is, “Nothing but computers.”

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

As the founder of the first student-initiated club at my school, I stood triumphant in front of the class teaching my first lesson. However, the journey here wasn’t easy.

As a child, I loved playing with kits to build robots that my father bought for me. As I moved onto high school in India, opportunities were limited to continue my passion so I took the initiative to found a Robotics Club at my school. My initial barrier was the fact that this was the first student-made club; therefore, there was no process for me to follow, and no mentors for advice. I had to be a trailblazer. I asked my physics teacher to be my mentor and obtained approval from the school administration.

“So, how will you fund this club?” my principal asked. I was dumbfounded. I hadn’t considered that we would need funds, let alone where they would come from. After doing research, I reached out to companies that manufacture robotic-kits, but everyone had politely refused. Undeterred, I contacted every company on my list, and to my surprise, Jeff Coda, National Sales Manager of Elenco wrote back, “I am inspired by your enthusiasm to develop a club in your new setting from scratch. I will sponsor Snap Circuits and Robotic kits, which will be a great start for you.” This was a huge win; Elenco provided us with kits worth $2000. 

After months, I had accomplished my goal; 30 students participated in the club with a self-sustaining curriculum. Most importantly, my contributions went beyond simply creating the club. I created a new culture within my school— a culture of entrepreneurship and taking initiative that could inspire other students to create their own clubs and share their passions.

Leadership, I learnt, wasn’t about being recognized as the founder of the robotics club. It is the ability to persist in order to overcome barriers. My ability to inspire hope in my peers also made me a leader. 

Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

Like most Indian parents in the US, who look for opportunities to instill in their children Indian cultural values, my parents enrolled me in Carnatic music lessons.  A few years later, I attended a residential School in India.  The Hindu school integrates spiritual, intellectual, and cultural values as part of their holistic education system. After living in America, I had to make many adjustments, but this experience has helped me to look at things from multiple perspectives.

Throughout the school year, festivals are celebrated with great pomp and vigor, symbolizing the traditions. Watching students dance and sing developed in my soul a profound connection to my culture.  In my senior year, I understood how fully I had embodied my Indian culture when I played the role of a Hindu god, Lord Krishna in a play celebrating the path of righteousness through actions.

I found a way to express myself through movement, altering both my body and mind to bring out my creative potential. The flow of energy created by each move and preaching like Krishna facilitated moments of discovery and inspiration. I had to even change the way I walked while playing the role, taking strides with determination and purpose. This moment redefined me; I transcended my own limitations by expanding my understanding and knowledge of my culture and its values.

While I have been immersed in Indian culture, I also have experienced American culture. From sitting in the classrooms of U.S. and Indian schools, I see various races, ethnicities, and truly appreciate a richness of ideas and art.  I have benefitted from widely different education systems and different lifestyles, and this has helped me to develop a greater understanding of all people.

My childhood experiences taught me how respect and acceptance of other cultures can improve our lives. However, my experience at [name of school] in India taught me that the true reward comes from digging deeper and finding what lies beneath these views. This perspective is a key driver for my personal innovation and discovery and will remain a constant in my life.