Chi Changemaker Scholarship

"Ineligible". That one word stood blocking my path at the doorway of every opportunity while my friends walked freely through. My H-4 visa status became a constant barrier, slamming shut each door that I approached—summer programs, internships, and scholarships—all inaccessible, no matter how qualified I was. Rather than accept the walls rising before me, I built my doorway through them. That doorway became Learn It, a nonprofit dedicated to providing free STEM education and college prep resources to students facing similar barriers. What started as small webinars on college applications and career pathways for first-generation immigrants like myself quickly became an international platform, reaching over 1,000 members across 40 countries. Determined to expand our impact, I organized the Learn It Global Hackathon, where 470 participants tackled health and sustainability challenges, judged by Meta, Amazon, and JPMorgan professionals. Through partnerships with organizations like Wolfram and Desmos, we distributed over $20,000 in prizes, ensuring young innovators had the resources to turn ideas into action. Beyond hackathons, I sought to bridge the gap between students and opportunities. I secured research internships at institutions like the Broad Institute at MIT & Harvard, Dartmouth, and UMass Amherst, proving that persistence could break through systemic limitations. These experiences reinforced my passion for computational biology and artificial intelligence and gave me the tools to mentor others navigating the same struggles I once faced. Now, I am expanding Learn It's reach by developing an AI-driven mentorship platform, connecting students with personalized learning resources and industry mentors based on their interests. I also aim to partner with local schools and libraries to integrate Learn It's resources into curricula and after-school programs, ensuring that students from all backgrounds have access to quality education. While I once saw "ineligible" as a complete stop, I now recognize it as an invitation to innovate. Every ineligible is an opportunity to be a Chi Changemaker—to transform obstacles into action and barriers into bridges for others.