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.

My interest in entrepreneurship led me to [name], an international non-profit organization that enables crowdfunding for lending to budding entrepreneurs in developing countries. The loans vary in size and could be for a variety of reasons from funding further education to someone who may not be able to afford it otherwise to purchasing solar powered freezer system for the expansion of a grocery store. These entrepreneurs spend the time and effort into making their ideas a reality and we use their repayments to continue the cycle of ideation, creation, and opportunity. I joined this club during my freshmen year, I evaluate applicants and their risk ratings and then shortlist and advocate their causes to the club head, who makes the loan.

[Name] has not only taught me economic savvy and dedication, but also compassion and global awareness. I once received a loan application from a principal running a school in Venezuela who needed funds to purchase new desks for children. Sitting at my own desk, I realized how fortunate I was to never have to worry about where I was going to sit and learn for the day. Dreams of having basic school conditions are universal, while the opportunity is not. That’s why I dedicate 3 hours every week on [name] Club and have led fundraising actives such basketball tournaments and online challenges in which friends nominate friends. All the while, I am helping to grow a global community and playing a special part in someone else’s story.

What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

As the sun’s heat torched my skin, I walked down the street in [name], a city in south India. I was there to meet my music teacher, who had been teaching me Indian classical (Carnatic) music since I was 13. Carnatic music is unique to south India and the main emphasis is on vocal music. The ragas (collection of notes) in Carnatic music rigorously test the range of one's vocal abilities. Although I have been singing since I was 3, and have recorded many pop cover songs in a recording studio, learning the structured form of Carnatic music was the next step for me. Carnatic music involves a lot of rhythmic and tonal complexity and has helped me advance in my vocal music journey. Music has allowed me to connect with my Indian heritage and culture and I cannot imagine my life without the lessons that my experiences with music have taught me.

Music has been with me since I was born and has helped me a lot especially in the past couple years with the stress from high school. At high school, I am part of Jazz Etc., an A cappella group that meets after school. I often feel excited on these days for the club and look forward to singing with my friends and doing what we love. Whenever I feel too stressed or pressured I turn to my piano and play classical music, which really relaxes me. Singing allows me to clear my head of all preoccupations, and it is just me and the music.

Music has also taught me life skills such as teamwork, as from singing in groups and choirs I have learned how to create harmonies in a way that sounds pleasant to the ear. Especially in Jazz Etc., teamwork is very important because it is just our voices that the audience hears, and to get to this harmony, you have to mesh with the rest of the group. I had a great opportunity to experience the teamwork and coordination coming together when I performed with my high school choir at Disney World in Florida.

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

Chemical Engineering is an amalgam of two things that fascinate me, Chemistry and Physics. My dive into the world of chemical engineering began during my freshman chemistry class. It seemed as though I made a new and exciting discovery through each lab. The chemical equation that we balanced would come to life, as I would watch in awe. During my physics class, I uncovered how mathematics could perfectly describe how chemicals moved through space and time.

When I visited my family in India, I was warned not to drink the water due to poor quality. Curious, I began researching what could be done to improve the water quality and learned that chemical engineers play a large part in water treatment, which sparked my interest in chemical engineering. Besides improving water quality, chemical engineers play a role in many different fields, from drug production to pollution control.

To further develop my knowledge, I attended two camps - Exploring STEM and Exploring Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering. I learned about different fields of engineering, built a trebuchet, programmed a game using C#, built a line-following robot, and learned about nuclear reactors. I was also intrigued to learn that chemical engineers are working on new ways to deal with nuclear waste.

During a Careers in STEM summer class, a chemical engineer talked about the impact chemical engineering has in the food industry. He brought in a sample of a pickle that he helped create a process to make, which gave me yet another example of how chemical engineers design processes to scale up production of food and drugs. I read an article in Science Magazine about how chemical engineers have developed a 3D printer that can be used to synthesize pharmaceuticals and other chemicals to create cheaper, more accessible drugs that could save many lives - a great example of how chemical engineers use physics, chemistry and coding to create systemic and societal changes.

Pursuing chemical engineering would enable me to contribute to society by help solving real-world issues such as developing cleaner – and more sustainable – air, drinking water, medicine, energy and smart materials.

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

As a member of National Honor Society (“NHS”), service has been a large part of my high school life. The volunteering experience ranges from volunteering at the library to raising money to buy Christmas gifts for impoverished families. The latter is called Give-A-Thon, a fund raising event I am proud of being a part of all fours years of high school. We are assigned two families per class that we need to raise funds for. I sold candy to other kids as well as organized penny wars competition between two classes to raise enough money to buy products that a family has said they need as well as a few holiday gifts.  This year, we provided holiday gifts for 300 families, donated six months of food to the local township and donated enough diapers, baby formula, and young motherhood items to last six months.

I helped organize [name]– an annual fund raiser at my high school for supporting local charities that we select each year. This year we supported the Danny Did Foundation, which funds research for child epilepsy, Special Gifts Theatre, which allows for kids with special needs be exposed to theatre, and Equestrian Connection, which helps kids with special needs by providing horse therapy.  As part of the organizing committee, I made calls to local restaurants to invite them to bring food trucks to the event. Part of the food sale proceeds goes to the charity fund along with the nominal entry fee we charge and the fees we collect for various games we organize during the fest. The event is well attended by students, their parents and friends and every year we raise thousands of dollars to help the charities. At this year’s event I was moved by the performance by kids of the Special Gifts Theatre. I derived a lot of enjoyment and fulfilment by helping support such a good cause. 

Being inducted into the National Honor Society as a result of my volunteering was a proud moment for me and has brought me a lot of inner satisfaction. I will continue to volunteer and serve the society in every way I can.