“The inclusive energy of Yale’s professors always seemed to have sparked my desire to know more and played a special role in developing my intellectual curiosity for the biological and biomedical sciences. Whether it was learning about the interrelatedness between stethoscope auscultation and music from Mr. Thomas Duffy or debating the various implications of developing artificial intelligence with undergraduate students through seminars, my mind was captivated by such creative and controversial approaches to learning.”
During the summer after my junior year of high school, I founded Social Courage, my community-based non-profit organization aiming to inspire social minorities, especially the LGBTQ+ community, in expressing themselves rather than conforming to the expectations of society. I decided to provide a free online peer counseling service, through which I listen to the experiences and difficulties of many, from social anxiety to cyberbullying, hoping to lessen the ramifications of their minority status. Throughout such a wide range of eye-opening experiences, I continue to empathize with the struggles of minorities and give back to the community that has shaped me more significantly.