
Hobbies and interests
Sewing
Fashion
Advocacy And Activism
US CITIZENSHIP
US Citizen
LOW INCOME STUDENT
Yes
FIRST GENERATION STUDENT
Yes
crystal Li
1,655
Bold Points1x
Finalist
crystal Li
1,655
Bold Points1x
FinalistBio
I am currently in high school, graduating in the class of 2025. I pattern draft, design, and construct garments for my small business. I want to focus on growing my business and taking on entrepreneurship to be successful in the future. Nearing the end of sophmore, junior and upcoming senior year, I've been working at a Cafe in LV while taking on all honors, dual credit, and AP classes. Throughout my journey in middleschool-high school, I've dreamt of growing up to be a psychologist. I want to understand the complex minds of other people; to comprehend and communicate the challenges the people are facing.
Education
Southwest Career And Technical Academy
High SchoolMiscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Majors of interest:
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
- Psychology, General
- Visual and Performing Arts, Other
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Career
Dream career field:
Apparel & Fashion
Dream career goals:
Barista
2025 – Present9 months
Sports
Badminton
Club2023 – Present2 years
Arts
FCCLA
Design2023 – Present
Public services
Volunteering
FCCLA — VP of membership2025 – PresentVolunteering
Key club — Member2023 – Present
Lyon County Community Engagement Youth Scholarship
When I first entered middle school, I experienced frequent bullying and was often shamed for being quiet and introverted. These experiences fostered a deep sense of self-consciousness regarding both my appearance and personality, eventually leading to feelings of isolation and detachment from my community. At that point, I began to accept the negative labels others assigned to me, which led me to perceive myself as fundamentally separate from my classmates.
Throughout lunch periods, I consistently sat alone, too apprehensive to engage with others out of fear that I would be perceived as strange. On one occasion, after receiving an award for academic excellence, I was given a ticket to the student store. I used it to purchase a cone-shaped popsicle and, as usual, returned to my seat. While eating, the popsicle slipped from my mouth onto the table in full view of a group of classmates. Overwhelmed with embarrassment, I found myself in tears and retreated to the girls’ restroom, where I remained until lunch ended. At that moment, I wished relentlessly for the school year to end as quickly as possible.
Finally, summer came and I graduated middle school. I finally opened up to people and tried to gain more confidence by being myself. I realized then that finding my individuality was important, but to truly gain it, one must recognize one’s strengths and weaknesses and embrace them. So, I stayed true to myself and let go of the past, embracing new horizons and finding my own community. As of now, I know that individuality is a process, not a destination. The more you get to know yourself and live according to your own values, the more your individuality will shine through.
Being in a caring community is the strongest thing to help you develop your sense of self. It is the most important aspect of truly finding who you are. I want to make my community better than before; not just to make friends, but to help others who are stuck trying to find themselves just as I did. I am extremely passionate about making a community better for my family and future generations because when we invest in improving our communities, whether through education, inclusivity, or infrastructure, we ensure that future generations inherit a place where they could be happy. Building a good and strong community provides more opportunities and a sense of belonging which helps young people develop into confident and capable individuals. I want to improve my community by leaving a positive legacy and empowering future generations to build even greater achievements.