Someone once said that “strong leaders create even stronger societies.” This is a quote that has resonated with me for a long time. My leadership potential took root at a young age when I began volunteering with the Friendship Foundation, a local organization dedicated to helping children with special needs. Of the nearly 300 hours I’ve volunteered during high school, most of my time has been dedicated to serving on the Teen Advisory Board (TAB) and organizing the annual Friendship Foundation-Skechers Pier-to-Pier Friendship Walk, a regional fundraiser for Special Education programs and students in our local schools. By the time I joined TAB, the meaning behind the quote became more purposeful. It was the height of the pandemic. The challenges we faced as an organization and board were unlike any we had encountered, and I learned what it truly means to lead in the face of adversity. The pandemic forced us to rethink our approach to community outreach and fundraising. The usual in-person events and social gatherings were no longer possible, but the needs of the children we served didn’t disappear—they intensified. As a newly appointed board member, I knew that strong leaders were needed more than ever to keep our foundation’s mission alive. Determined to help our community find a way forward, I initiated the board’s development and implementation of new community engagement strategies. As a result, we organized online events, from virtual walks to Zoom fundraisers, ensuring that our efforts to support children with special needs continued, even in the face of unprecedented circumstances. While the virtual strategies we implemented proved successful, our efforts for in-person engagement were not. Pier-to-Pier event data showed that walker participation count for my high school was lower than the years prior. Determined to have Redondo Union High School (RUHS) rise like a Phoenix from the ashes of abstention, I created a marketing plan to increase RUHS participation. This involved designing and hanging promotional posters in classrooms and high-trafficked campus areas, submitting announcements for student broadcasts, and gaining teacher support to encourage student involvement. Ultimately, RUHS committed over 150 walkers, exceeding the previous year's participation rate and contributing to the foundation’s 19,0000 walkers and 3 million dollars raised that year. From this experience, I learned a true leader is someone who tackles challenges head-on and doesn’t shy away from obstacles but uses them as opportunities to create solutions and inspire others to stay committed when things get tough. These leadership values, along with the strategic planning, consensus building, collaboration, and motivational skills I gained during the pandemic, have been instrumental in my new TAB role: Head of Ground Patrol.

Understanding long texts of English had always been difficult for me. I grew up in a Tamil-speaking household, and while I could speak English, reading long texts or writing essays didn’t come naturally. In elementary and middle school, I often struggled to keep up with classmates in language arts. This problem became even worse once high school approached. Now, being in an honors English course, the passages started getting even more complex. What was already a difficult challenge for me was amped up. This led me to get my first B in sophomore year honors English class. As a previous straight-A student, this grade hit me harder than ever. However, instead of using my struggles to pull me even lower, I channeled it into long hours of studying and reading comprehension. As I entered junior year, my efforts started paying off. I was able to receive a 1500 on the SAT and a 5 on my AP Lang exam, as well as an A in the class. What used to be my greatest weakness became a skill I now rely on across subjects. My name is Anish Raman, and I am currently a senior at Redondo Union High School. I am attending UC Berkeley in the fall for data science and am focused in both my academic and extracurricular life. I’m the son of Indian immigrants, and much of what drives me—academically and personally—comes from understanding what it means to work for opportunity and share it with others. My goal after graduating from college is to use data science and biology to improve healthcare for underserved and low-income communities. Over the past two years, I’ve interned at three Harbor-UCLA research labs focused on cardiovascular imaging, neurotherapeutics, and surgical outcomes. I’ve analyzed over 100 CT scans to help detect arterial plaque for the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, supported vascular access research in a bioinformatics lab, and helped process neuroimaging kits used to study stroke and MS. These experiences taught me how medical data can lead to earlier diagnosis, better care, and more equitable treatment, especially in communities that often lack access. My passion for helping others also guides my work outside academic fields. I am a part of the Teen Advisory Board for Friendship Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping kids with special needs. As a board member of this wonderful organization, I help organize the Pier-to-Pier Friendship Walk, an event that raised over 3 million dollars last year. All money raised from this event goes towards helping special needs kids in our communities, whether it's through planning fun activities for them, or raising money for educational opportunities. Not to mention, I also serve patients and staff at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center by delivering labs, escorting patients, and assisting with meal prep and hospital operations. These experiences have deepened my commitment to serving others and shown me how small efforts can make a big difference. Furthermore, I am part of my school's varsity tennis team, leading the team as captain and the number 1 singles player. At school, I also tutor students in AP Chemistry and European History, all while maintaining a 4.4 weighted GPA. Throughout all my experiences, I have faced a plethora of challenges, but I have always reminded myself to stay consistent. That consistency helped me earn recognition like the AP Scholar with Distinction Award, the Presidential Volunteer Service Gold Award, and a mayoral commendation for youth leadership and community service. When I go to Berkeley, I hope will continue to combine science, service, and leadership All in all, I hope to make healthcare smarter, fairer, and more inclusive.

Understanding long texts of English had always been difficult for me. I grew up in a Tamil-speaking household, and while I could speak English, reading long texts or writing essays didn’t come naturally. This problem became even worse once high school approached. Now, being in an honors English course, the passages started getting even more complex. What was already a difficult challenge for me was amped up 10 notches. This led me to get my first B in sophomore year honors English class. As a previous straight-A student, this grade hit me harder than ever. However, instead of using my struggles to pull me even lower, I channeled it into long hours of studying and reading comprehension. As I entered junior year, my efforts started paying off. I was able to receive a 1500 on the SAT and a 5 on my AP Lang exam, as well as an A in the class. What used to be my greatest weakness became a skill I now rely on across subjects. My name is Anish Raman, and I am currently a senior at Redondo Union High School. I am attending UC Berkeley in the fall for data science and am focused in both my academic and extracurricular life. I’m the son of Indian immigrants, and much of what drives me—academically, professionally, and personally—comes from understanding what it means to work for opportunity and share it with others. My goal after graduating from college is to use data science and biology to improve healthcare for underserved and low-income communities. Over the past two years, I’ve interned at three Harbor-UCLA research labs focused on cardiovascular imaging, neurotherapeutics, and surgical outcomes. I’ve analyzed over 100 CT scans to help detect arterial plaque for the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, supported vascular access research in a bioinformatics lab, and helped process neuroimaging kits used to study stroke and MS. These experiences taught me how medical data can lead to earlier diagnosis, better care, and more equitable treatment, especially in communities that often lack access. My passion for helping others also guides my work outside academic fields. I am a part of the Teen Advisory Board for Friendship Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping kids with special needs. As a board member of this wonderful organization, I help organize the Pier-to-Pier Friendship Walk, an event that raised over 3 million dollars last year. All money raised from this event goes towards helping special needs kids in our communities, whether it's through planning fun activities for them, or raising money for educational opportunities. Not to mention, I also serve patients and staff at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center by delivering labs, escorting patients, and assisting with meal prep. These experiences have deepened my commitment to serving others and shown me how small efforts can make a big difference. Furthermore, I am part of my school's varsity tennis team, leading the team as captain and the number 1 singles player. At school, I also tutor students in AP Chemistry and European History, all while maintaining a 4.4 weighted GPA. Throughout all my experiences, I have faced a plethora of challenges, but I have always reminded myself to stay consistent. That consistency helped me earn recognition like the AP Scholar with Distinction Award, the Presidential Volunteer Service Gold Award, and a mayoral commendation for youth leadership and community service. When I go to Berkeley, I hope to continue to combine science, service, and leadership. My vision of developing data-driven, cost-effective treatments that improve lives always motivates me to keep working hard and persevering.

As a student athelete, I have learned how to manage my team, lead teams with purpose, and bounce back from setbacks, both on and off the court. I've played varsity tennis since my freshmen year and currently serve as the Redondo Union High School Team Captain. As our number 1 singles player, I have led the team to a Division 1 ranking and qualification for the All American Invitational Tournament, where the top teams from all of the United States compete. I have also organized fundraisers, mentored young players, and built team morale with all my teammates. Being a part of a team taught me that success is more than winning. It's about lifting others up, staying consistent, and doing your part with integrity. These values carry into my academic and service work. I maintained a 4.4 GPA in a rigorous course load that includes AP Biology, Calculus BC, and a four-year biomedical science track. I tutor peers in Chemistry and AP Euro, helping them not only raise their grades but build confidence in tough subjects. But the most impactful part of my high school journey has been working in medical research labs and volunteering at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. At the Cardiovascular Lab at the Lundquist Institute, I analyze over 100 CT scans to identify arterial plaque, contributing to the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. My knowledge of heart anatomy allows me to spot early signs of disease and support efforts toward more effective diagnosis and treatment. In the Bioinformatics Tech Lab, I work with vascular surgeons to analyze AV graft vs. fistula outcomes—critical data that may improve surgical choices for diverse and underserved patients. And in the Neurotherapeutics Lab, I’ve helped streamline neuroimaging studies by preparing and organizing over 75 lab kits, making research more efficient for scientists studying conditions like MS and stroke. These experiences shaped my future goals. I’m attending UC Berkeley this fall to major in Data Science and focus on biology-driven research. I want to use machine learning and bioinformatics to help create affordable, data-backed therapies for low-income communities, especially in areas where access to precision medicine is limited. As the son of immigrant parents and someone who volunteers regularly in my community, I know the impact healthcare inequity can have. I want to change that. Volunteering has kept me grounded and grateful. I’ve served over 300 hours with the Friendship Foundation, supporting children with special needs through inclusive events and community programs. As part of their Teen Advisory Board, I helped organize the Pier-to-Pier Friendship Walk, which raised over $3 million. I also deliver meals and labs, escort patients, and provide admin support as a hospital aide at Harbor-UCLA. These efforts earned me the Presidential Volunteer Service Gold Award and the Youth Leadership & Service Award, which I received from local mayors for my work in the community. Everything I do—in school, research, sports, and service—comes back to the same mindset: show up, work hard, and lead with compassion. That’s how I’ve grown as a student-athlete, and that’s how I plan to contribute in college and beyond.

As a student athelete, I have learned how to manage my team, lead teams with purpose, and bounce back from setbacks, both on and off the court. I've played varsity tennis since my freshmen year and currently serve as the Redondo Union High School Team Captain. As our number 1 singles player, I have led the team to a Division 1 ranking and qualification for the All American Invitational Tournament, where the top teams from all of the United States compete. I have also organized fundraisers, mentored young players, and built team morale with all my teammates. Being a part of a team taught me that success is more than winning. It's about lifting others up, staying consistent, and doing your part with integrity. These values carry into my academic and service work. I maintained a 4.4 GPA in a rigorous course load that includes AP Biology, Calculus BC, and a four-year biomedical science track. I tutor peers in Chemistry and AP Euro, helping them not only raise their grades but build confidence in tough subjects. But the most impactful part of my high school journey has been working in medical research labs and volunteering at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. At the Cardiovascular Lab at the Lundquist Institute, I analyze over 100 CT scans to identify arterial plaque, contributing to the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. My knowledge of heart anatomy allows me to spot early signs of disease and support efforts toward more effective diagnosis and treatment. In the Bioinformatics Tech Lab, I work with vascular surgeons to analyze AV graft vs. fistula outcomes—critical data that may improve surgical choices for diverse and underserved patients. And in the Neurotherapeutics Lab, I’ve helped streamline neuroimaging studies by preparing and organizing over 75 lab kits, making research more efficient for scientists studying conditions like MS and stroke. These experiences shaped my future goals. I’m attending UC Berkeley this fall to major in Data Science and focus on biology-driven research. I want to use machine learning and bioinformatics to help create affordable, data-backed therapies for low-income communities, especially in areas where access to precision medicine is limited. As the son of immigrant parents and someone who volunteers regularly in my community, I know the impact healthcare inequity can have. I want to change that. Volunteering has kept me grounded and grateful. I’ve served over 300 hours with the Friendship Foundation, supporting children with special needs through inclusive events and community programs. As part of their Teen Advisory Board, I helped organize the Pier-to-Pier Friendship Walk, which raised over $3 million. I also deliver meals and labs, escort patients, and provide admin support as a hospital aide at Harbor-UCLA. These efforts earned me the Presidential Volunteer Service Gold Award and the Youth Leadership & Service Award, which I received from local mayors for my work in the community. Everything I do—in school, research, sports, and service—comes back to the same mindset: show up, work hard, and lead with compassion. That’s how I’ve grown as a student-athlete, and that’s how I plan to contribute in college and beyond.

For this essay, I want to discuss Mr. Lee, my Honors and AP Chemistry teacher. As a high school student at Redondo Union High School, course selection for sophomore year approached, bringing with it the daunting decision of taking Honors Chemistry. This class was known to be one of the hardest courses at Redondo Union High School, leaving me very scared and frightened. When I first entered the class, I was happy because I had a lot of friends in it. However, the struggles and challenges of Honors Chemistry would soon hit me harder than ever. Lectures and classes would go by with me not understanding a single thing, forcing me to self-study on my own. Days turned into weeks, with me continuing to struggle. Mr. Lee was a nice and helpful teacher, but he also made the class challenging and difficult to prepare his students. Unfortunately, like a knife to the stomach, this class continued to tear me down. I was eventually able to finish with a B both semesters, which left me feeling pretty sad. Previously, I was an all-A student, but now I had a B in this class. It hit me harder than ever and led to me feeling more dejected than ever. Despite Mr. Lee continuously mentioning that this grade didn't define me and that I had tried my hardest, it still hurt. What made it even worse was that during this same time, I was also applying for internships, constantly emailing professors and researchers to get a role. However, despite emailing over 40 professors, I couldn't secure an internship with a single one, leaving me completely dejected. As I look back at that time, I realize how crazy I was to be mad over struggles like this, but at the time, I felt my life slipping through my hands. I had always pushed myself, wanting to go to a good school and make my immigrant parents proud. This all changed one day when I was talking to Mr. Lee during tutoring. I was telling him about my struggles in his class and my struggles outside of school as well. I explained to him that I couldn't secure an internship, my tennis was slipping away, and I was struggling in school. After hearing all my struggles, he told me that I shouldn’t be afraid to fail, only afraid if I didn’t try. He asked me if I had tried my hardest throughout his class, and I nodded. He explained that it is normal to struggle in life and that he struggled with subjects like English and history. Despite his struggles, he always worked hard and did whatever he could to improve himself. Although these words didn’t seem like much at the time, looking back, I realize how fortunate I was that they stuck with me. Because of Mr. Lee’s advice on failure, I forced myself to build up the courage to take AP Chemistry. I gave my all in this class, working day and night, skipping hangouts with friends—all to get extra study time. I ended up clinching an A both semesters and earning a 5 on the AP exam. Not only that, but I was also able to secure two research internships with UCLA researchers, both on subjects I was deeply passionate about. Through this experience, I learned that failure does not define me—only my perseverance and willingness to improve do. Thanks to Mr. Lee’s guidance, I no longer fear setbacks, but instead, I embrace them as opportunities to grow.