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Annika Chan

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Finalist

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Tennis
  • Painting and Studio Art
  • Photography and Photo Editing
  • Community Service And Volunteering
  • Child Development
  • Babysitting And Childcare
  • Tutoring
  • Singing

Reading

  • Adventure
  • Romance

Bio

My name is Annika Chan and I aspire to make a difference in the special needs and disability community. Many special education students are marginalized and isolated in schools, including mine. I aim to change this in the future by integrating more opportunities for students with special needs to interact with other students. Through my club "My Friend and I," I have taken steps towards creating a more inclusive community for students with special needs by organizing weekly games and crafts. I am caring and compassionate and have a big heart for volunteering and helping people! Through my gift compassion and patience and having a heart for those with intellectual disabilities, I hope to pursue a career in Special Education and become a moderate to severe special needs teacher or occupational therapist. I truly desire to make a difference in my community, and I believe that my passion to help those with special needs is a rare and precious gift that will enable me to accomplish this. With your support, I hope to further my educational goals and pursue a career in moderate to severe special education. Thank you for supporting my educational journey to achieve future success!

Education

University of California-Irvine

Bachelor's degree program

2025 – 2025

Majors:
  • Psychology, General

Arcadia High School

High School

2021 – 2025

GPA4.0 GPA

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Majors of interest:
Special Education and Teaching, Psychology, General, Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, General, Behavioral Sciences
Test scores:
  • SAT1390

Career

  • My job as a food service worker was to take both in restaurant and drive through orders, work efficiently and quickly to package orders, and be a positive and cheerful team member. Additionally, I cleaned the bathroom, soda machine, and dining area.

    Restaurants · Burger King

    Jan 2022 – Jan 2022

  • As an after school proram leader, I created STEM learning and team-building activities, such as lifting objects using string and tape to teach tension. I supervised 10-15 kids and taught them boundaries, observing and correcting behavior.

    Professional Training & Coaching · JMG Sportswise

    Jan 2023 – Jan 2023

  • As a tennis coach for children ages 6 to 12, I taught kids the form of how to hit balls, helped correct their form, and created fun games for them. I integrated fun aspects in tennis to help kids enjoy the sport!

    Professional Training & Coaching · Tennis Anyone

    Jan 2023 – Jan 2023

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Education
Dream career goals:
My long-term career goal is to help the children with disabilities and special needs I work with to acquire skills and abilities that will help them get jobs. I am to foster a more inclusive community and expand opportunities for special needs students.
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
Electric Cycle Studio Student Athlete Scholarship
Playing tennis for the past 10 years and at Arcadia High for the past 4 years has developed and strengthened my perseverance and mentality. Maneuvering the ups and downs of high school matches, every game challenged my tenacity. When my partner and I made mistakes or were losing, I remained positive, hyping us up with “We got this next point.” Tennis has shaped my mindset to a positive one, helping me move on from my failures and constantly improve myself. Tennis has also given me the opportunity to enhance leadership skills. Taking the role of being coach for Tennis Anyone and the Athletics Booster Camp for two years, I have learned how to manage children and adapt to all playing styles. With no prior coaching experience, I observed and quickly learned how to teach students from Coach John and Coach Richard. Despite my initial lack of confidence and hesitation, I slowly got more comfortable with passing on my tennis knowledge from the past 10 years to instruct groundstroke and serve forms. It was particularly challenging to teach the younger students who had little to no tennis experience, but I was able to help them become better. Evaluating the progress of students, I planned how they could improve and gave tips and tricks, such as throwing the ball along the fence to practice consistent serve toss. I fostered a friendly and positive environment among all students, integrating fun games such as Tennis baseball, fruit salad, and coach vs everyone. During my time as a tennis coach for children 6-12 years old, my passion for working with children grew, shaping my desire to work with kids in the future. Furthermore, my role as team captain for three years has allowed me to develop strong leadership skills, foster a sense of unity among teammates, and navigate challenges. Looking back on my time playing and coaching tennis at Arcadia High, I am happy to say tennis has shaped me into a more resilient, optimistic, and driven person. The challenges I faced on and off court taught me the value of perseverance, and the leadership roles I took on helped me grow in confidence and discover a passion for mentoring others. As an aspiring special education teacher or occupational therapist, I want to support the aspirations of students with disabilities. With a $400 grant from the Arcadia Education Foundation, I developed a store rewards system where Mr. Anderson’s moderate to severe special education students earned play money to purchase prizes for participating in activities. They were encouraged and empowered to enjoy participating in club activities, including educational ones such as preparing lunch by making PB&J heart sandwiches. Getting to know the students with developmental disabilities at my school over the past 4 years by serving in "My Friend and I" and "Peer Mentors," I have been able to understand their unique personalities, talents, and dreams. For example, Brandon, a student who is on the autism spectrum, is a huge Sonic and Mario fan and wants to work for Universal Studios. I hope that in the future, I can assist students in their professional journeys. By blending psychological theories with practical teaching strategies, I aim to make workplaces more accessible to individuals with disabilities, ensuring they have equal opportunities to achieve their dream careers.
Valerie Rabb Academic Scholarship
Since I met Kacy— my first friend with Down syndrome— in fourth grade, I discovered my lifelong passion for helping youth with developmental disabilities. Despite being two grades below me, Kacy and I formed an unbreakable bond, eating lunch and playing together during recess. That was, until we lost touch when I moved onto middle school, and I would spend years not knowing how she was doing. Nevertheless, Kacy sparked my passion for assisting individuals with special needs. Observing the marginalization experienced by students with special needs in my middle school, I resolved to foster a more inclusive community in high school. Starting with my club “My Friend and I,” I have been able to make a positive impact on both general education and special education students at Arcadia High. With a $400 grant from the Arcadia Education Foundation, I developed a store rewards system called “My Friend and I’s Marvelous Market” where the moderate to severe special education teacher Mr. Anderson’s class earned play money for participating in activities. As president, I initiated engaging activities with my officer team, such as preparing heart PB&J sandwiches for Valentine’s, building spaghetti towers, and planting succulents in a bottle. More than having fun, we taught his students essential skills such as communication, teamwork, and critical thinking. Running this program for several months, I have seen the profound impact it has on Mr. Anderson’s moderate to severe special education students. Every time I handed a student play money, they lit up with excitement. I will never forget Kobe, who has autism, beaming with joy as he ecstatically squealed, “I did it!” after winning Bingo. Although meetings were chaotic at times, watching Mr. Anderson’s students proudly hold up their orbeez balls and slinky prizes reaffirmed my purpose to help students with special needs. I was able to build an inclusive community where all students could collaborate and grow. Both general education and special education students could learn from each other and develop patience, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Throughout my high school years, I have built meaningful friendships with the special education teachers and students, and not only do I know their names but they know mine. Greeting them outside school every morning and hearing them excitedly chat with me always leaves me with a smile. As I get to know their unique personalities and talents, I want to continue creating lasting connections that will empower students with disabilities. Miraculously, on registration day of my junior year, I saw Kacy for the first time in 5 years. Anxious yet hopeful, I asked if she remembered me. She said yes. Touched by this unexpected reunion, tears welled and we took a selfie to capture this wonderful moment. Precious interactions like these fuel my desire for creating positive change within the special education community. Just as MFAI’s Marvelous Market gave students a sense of belonging and accomplishment, I strive to continue making a lasting impact in my future career as a special education teacher or occupational therapist. I hope that through my passion for helping students with disabilities, I will make a positive difference in society by breaking the stigma around special education students and transforming their lives for the better.
Student Life Photography Scholarship
Nicholas Hamlin Tennis Memorial Scholarship
Over my eight years of playing tennis, I have learned so much about perfection, perseverance, and mentality. I started playing for fun because of my brother, and little did I know that from that point on, tennis would be an incredible journey that would teach me many important life lessons. When I started playing tennis, I was extremely hard on myself when I would make a mistake. I was so focused on perfection, never missing, that my joy for the sport diminished. Especially during my early competitions, I would talk myself down, saying things like "You're so stupid" or "You suck." I remember there were times when I wanted to quit, thinking that I was not good enough and that giving up was the best option. However, as I matured I grew to realize that perfection can not be achieved. Rather, I should focus on practicing and learning from my mistakes so that I can be the best version of myself. I can not be perfect, but I can strive towards perfection and become a better player through hard work and practice. Maneuvering the ups and downs of tennis, I have learned the importance of a good mentality, as mentality goes hand in hand with perseverance. Through my years of playing tennis, I developed mental toughness, which came into play during my most recent high school match when my team was playing second round of Division 1. The pressure was high, and after losing my first two matches in a very close set, I broke down into tears out of disappointment and frustration. I still had one last match to play and I walked onto the court with tears still in my eyes. But once the match started, I did not let the previous matches affect me and I shifted my mindset to a positive one. By persevering until the end, I won my last match, showing me that mentality and perseverance play a vital role in tennis. Tennis has shaped my future in so many ways. It has made me stronger mentally, which can be applied to other areas of my life, such as in school. With a positive mindset, I don't let my failures and setbacks determine my future. My defeats only prompt me to work harder in the future. Additionally, as the team captain of my varsity for two years and a coach for Tennis Anyone over the summer of 2023, I have gained valuable leadership and communication skills that would transfer to my college and career life. During my time as a tennis coach for 6-12 year olds, my passion for working with children grew, strengthening my desire to major in early childhood education, special education, and psychology. With this scholarship, I hope to use the valuable skills and lessons from tennis to further my educational goals in college. Tennis is and will forever be a profound part of my life!
Jeanne Kramme Fouke Scholarship for Future Teachers
From the moment I met Kacy, a girl with Down syndrome, in fourth grade, my life took a transformative turn. Despite being two grades below me, Kacy and I formed an unbreakable bond. We became very close, eating lunch and playing together during recess. I still vividly remember when she would lift me up like a feather (she was very very strong) and when she was sad the proctor did not allow me to sit with her at lunch one day. When I went to middle school, we lost touch, and I always wondered where she was and how she was doing. Miraculously, on registration day of my junior year, I saw her for the first time in 5 years. Part of me was anxious to approach her but also eager, and I asked her, “Are you Kacy?” She replied yes and I lit up, asking her if she remembered who I was. She did. I was so touched by this moment we reunited, that tears started to well up in my eyes. It is precious interactions like these that inspire me to create more through teaching moderate to severe special needs students. My passion for assisting individuals with special needs blossomed with Kacy and has since evolved into a fervent desire to pursue a career in special education. Observing the marginalization experienced by students with special needs in my school, I resolved to foster a more inclusive community and expand opportunities for these students. Thus, my goal is to create a more inclusive community in schools and expand the opportunities for special needs students. I want to teach them skills that will build a better future for them where they can be more independent and attain jobs. I have started this ambition through my club “My Friend and I,” which works with the students with special needs at my school, Arcadia High, during lunch on Tuesdays. I created the “My Friend and I’s Marvelous Market” in January of 2024, which strives to teach Arcadia High School students with special needs life skills, such as preparing lunch, money sense, folding laundry, and motor skills. By participating in activities, such as crafts, the question of the day, dancing, students can earn play money, and at the last meeting of the month, they can use that money to buy prizes! Running this program for several months, I have seen a positive impact on the students, as they are more engaged. Working closely with Mr. Anderson, the moderate to severe special education teacher at my school, and his students, has further fueled my determination. I know all of his students by heart: Kobe, Edward, Brandon, Joseph, Ben, Aiden, to name a few. But most importantly, they know me. Throughout my high school years, I have built meaningful friendships with the special needs students, and many of them know me by name. They always excitedly greet me and chat with me every time I see them. It is these daily interactions that I often look forward to the most during the day. They serve as a constant reminder of the profound impact educators can have on the lives of their students. I truly desire to make a difference in my community, and I believe that my passion of helping those with special needs is a rare and precious gift that will enable me to accomplish this. With your support, I hope to further my educational goals and pursue a career in moderate to severe special education. Thank you for your time and consideration!
Annika Chan Student Profile | Bold.org