Overcoming Obstacles Of My Life

From the other side of the Earth, my parents came to America for freedom, democracy, and new dreams. As a Chinese American, I spoke only Mandarin at home until kindergarten. At an early age, the language barrier was the biggest challenge of my life. I was once left on the school bus because I did not understand bus stops in English. I was in a maze of frustration and confusion. I was living in a different world. However, I overcame these obstacles through practice, hard work, smiles, and friendship. I made friends who helped me assimilate and were willing to help me through tough social situations.

Equipped with a more solid English background in middle school, I joined the choir. Through choir, I took on main leads in school plays. I played the role of the Emperor in The Emperor’s New Clothes. In spite of the embarrassment of wearing my underwear on stage, I was gratified when my friends and the
I learned that it is possible to balance both fun and academics. I was able to extensively explore science topics like Cell Biology and Invasive Species, building on the knowledge of classes I took in school. Making unforgettable memories on trips to state competitions, the entire team acts as one family of nonstop pranks. I woke up from a short nap covered with the sharpie that read “I’m Copper Telluride (CuTe).”

I was thrilled to be selected into the Exemplary Student Research Program at the Argonne National Laboratory, working directly with Argonne National Lab’s APS scientists. The program gave me hands-on experience in the scientific research to uncover the effects of Round-up (glyphosate) on the chemical traces and nutritional value of GR soybeans. The research we conducted has never been extensively researched before, and can have a substantial impact in the real world. This program reinforced my desire to pursue my dreams in a science or health