As a baby, I was adopted from China. My single Jewish mother encouraged me to connect to both of my cultural roots. I studied Mandarin and visited China, including my orphanage, where I learned about the cultural, political, and economic forces that shaped my adoption, such as China’s one-child policy. At home, I embraced my Jewish culture through holiday celebrations centered on social justice. On Sukkot, I gifted a temporary shelter, constructed of cardboard, wood, and palm leaves, to individuals experiencing homelessness. In retrospect, this was my first architectural endeavor. Through these experiences, I began to understand how systems larger than myself shape people's lives and circumstances. In first grade, struggling to decode words, I confidently read the word “pizza” aloud as “peanut butter.” That moment led my mother and teacher to pursue testing, and I was diagnosed with dyslexia. Navigating adoption and a learning difference, has profoundly shaped my academic journey and who I am today. At seven years old, I participated in an intensive intervention program, where I learned how to break down words by sounding out syllables, rearranging letters, and memorizing spelling and organizational strategies. Rather than deterring me, this process built tenacity and shaped my work ethic. With the support of an IEP and later a 504 plan, I experienced firsthand how access and inclusion determine whether a student merely copes or truly thrives. Since text was once a barrier, I gravitated toward visual and spatial thinking, approaching problems from unconventional perspectives. The analytical strategies I developed to decode words translated directly to my studio practice. Rather than breaking down words and rearranging letters, I broke down form, reorganized circulation paths, and reconfigured space. In collaborative settings, I often use visual representations to strengthen shared understanding through line weights, diagrams, and models. My unique approach to design, grounded in determination and perseverance, reflects commitment to process, patience, and problem-solving. Architecture’s emphasis on persistence, iteration, and experimentation mirrors the way I have learned to think and work. Graduating with honors from the UCLA undergraduate architecture program, earning two “Best Works” awards, and receiving the 2024 Asian American Architects and Engineers undergraduate scholarship reflect my ability to excel in rigorous design environments with inclusive frameworks. Living with dyslexia has shaped my sensitivity to architectural barriers around access and inclusion. I am attuned to how space communicates—who it welcomes, who it excludes, and who must work harder to navigate it. Whether designing a single building or a large-scale urban project, architects have the ability to translate important social values into the built environment, such as advocating for social equity and protecting cultural identity. Through my graduate studies, I plan to contribute design and research perspectives that frame inclusion and the preservation of cultural identity as fundamental design responsibilities. I am interested in architecture that prioritizes clarity, flexibility, and dignity—spaces that support different ways of learning, moving, and inhabiting the world. By integrating inclusive design strategies and advocating for social equity and cultural preservation, I hope to contribute to a built environment that empowers individuals with disabilities, displaced populations, and culturally marginalized groups often overlooked by conventional architectural practice and reflects the diverse experiences of the people it serves.

As a Chinese-American adoptee who was raised by a single Mom and grew up in a 600-square-foot apartment, I aspire to design and build innovative, playful multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs. This Fall I was accepted to the UCLA Architectural Studies undergraduate program. My interest in Architecture began in middle school when I participated in Girls Garage, a non-profit organization that offered classes and encouraged girls, especially girls of color, to design and build to help others. Collaborating with other students, I learned to weld, design, and build a geodome, a dog house for a local animal shelter, and a modular bookshelf for a homeless women's shelter. My specific interest in Architecture was solidified in high school when I was accepted into UC Berkeley’s embARC Summer Design Academy with a scholarship in 2020. This successful opportunity expanded my knowledge of architecture, design, and sustainable urban planning. I learned Rhino 6, a design software, and created my 3D digital designs. I completed individual projects such as designing a pavilion to elevate the surrounding environment and developing plans for my tiny house. I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people, including longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter from the rain. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I created activities for learning about art and Asian culture, learned from local artists and arts organizations, developed leadership skills, and used social media to build an online audience presence and generate interest in the museum’s programs and promote awareness of Asian-American culture and art. As an international adoptee born in China, my dream is to become a successful architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their daily environment. My multicultural identity enables me to reimagine spaces and design them to be more inclusive, accessible, playful, and supportive of people with different needs and cultural backgrounds. My experience living in small places, including a Chinese orphanage, a one-bedroom apartment in California, and a summer internship in Portugal also influenced my interest in architectural design. From a young age, I felt confined and wished to reconfigure the space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. Summer 2022 as an intern at two architectural firms in Lisbon, Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground, using AutoCAD to create a modular recycled plastic play structure that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware that most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces with low light and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. This scholarship, along with my undergraduate Architecture major, diverse experiences, and multicultural perspective, furthers my dream of becoming an architect who designs spaces that inspire and improve people's lives. After completing my undergraduate education, success would include continuing my architectural studies at the graduate school level and becoming a board-certified architect.

Exposure to different cultures, perspectives, and environments was transformative and has led to both my personal growth and academic interests. As a one-year-old, I was adopted from China by a single mom. During my childhood, I was encouraged by my mother to stay connected to both my Jewish and Chinese cultures. I traveled to China on five occasions, learned Mandarin, trained in Shaolin Martial Arts, and played the Chinese Erhu, a musical instrument with two strings and a bow between them. I also embraced my Jewish culture by attending a Yiddish preschool, celebrating Jewish holidays, and having a non-traditional bat mitzvah. Most importantly, my single mother taught me to value social justice and diversity. As a child, I built a Sukkah, a temporary shelter used during the festival of Sukkot. I later gifted this structure to a homeless person. In 2020, at UC Berkeley's embARC summer program, I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people. I included longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter from the rain. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I used art to educate people, including about Asian-American discrimination during the pandemic. As an international adoptee, I aim to become an architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their daily environment. My multicultural identity, including worldwide travel, enables me to reimagine spaces to be more inclusive, accessible, and supportive of people with different needs and backgrounds. My experience living in small places, including an orphanage in China, a one-bedroom apartment in California, and a summer internship in Portugal also influenced my passion for architecture. From a young age, I wished to reconfigure the small space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. This past summer, as an intern at two separate architectural firms in Lisbon, Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground and used AutoCAD to create a play structure made from recycled plastic that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having been raised by a single mom in a small apartment and experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces with low light and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. This year I was accepted to the UCLA undergraduate major in architectural studies. The hands-on and theoretical Architecture program at UCLA, along with my prior architecture courses, diverse travel experiences, internships, and multicultural perspective is preparing me for my dream of becoming a well-rounded architect and pursuing graduate studies. I seek to help others by designing and implementing living spaces that consider cultural contexts, are multi-functional, and improve people's lives.

As a Chinese-American adoptee who was raised by a single Mom and grew up in a 600-square-foot apartment, I aspire to design and build innovative, playful multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs. This Fall I was accepted to the UCLA Architectural Studies undergraduate program. My interest in Architecture began in middle school when I participated in Girls Garage, a non-profit organization that offered classes and encouraged girls, especially girls of color, to design and build to help others. Collaborating with other students, I learned to weld, design, and build a geodome, a dog house for a local animal shelter, and a modular bookshelf for a homeless women's shelter. My specific interest in Architecture was solidified in high school when I was accepted into UC Berkeley’s embARC Summer Design Academy with a scholarship in 2020. This exciting opportunity expanded my knowledge of architecture, design, and sustainable urban planning. I learned Rhino 6, a design software, and created my 3D digital designs. I completed individual projects such as designing a pavilion to elevate the surrounding environment and developing plans for my tiny house. I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people, including longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter from the rain. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I created activities for learning about art and Asian culture, learned from local artists and arts organizations, developed leadership skills, and used social media to build an online audience presence and generate interest in the museum’s programs and promote awareness of Asian-American art. As an international adoptee born in China, I aim to become an architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their daily environment. My multicultural identity enables me to reimagine spaces and design them to be more inclusive, accessible, playful, and supportive of people with different needs and backgrounds. My experience living in small places, including a Chinese orphanage, a one-bedroom apartment in California, and a summer internship in Portugal also influenced my interest in architectural design. From a young age, I felt confined and wished to reconfigure the space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. Summer 2022 as an intern at two architectural firms in Lisbon, Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground, using AutoCAD to create a modular recycled plastic play structure that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware that most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces with low light and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. This scholarship, along with my undergraduate Architecture major, diverse experiences, and multicultural perspective, furthers my dream of becoming an architect who designs spaces that inspire and improve people's lives.

As a Chinese-American adoptee who was raised by a single Mom and grew up in a 600-square-foot apartment, I aspire to design innovative, playful multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs. This Fall I was accepted to the UCLA Architectural Studies undergraduate program. My interest in architecture began in middle school when I participated in Girls Garage, a non-profit organization that offered classes and encouraged girls, especially girls of color, to design and build to help others. Collaborating with other students, I learned to weld, design, and build a geodome, a dog house for a local animal shelter, and a modular bookshelf for a homeless women's shelter. My specific interest in Architecture and Design was solidified in high school when I was accepted into UC Berkeley’s embARC Summer Design Academy with a scholarship in 2020. This exciting opportunity expanded my knowledge of architecture, design, and sustainable urban planning. I learned Rhino 6, a design software, and created my 3D digital designs. I completed individual projects such as designing a pavilion to elevate the surrounding environment and developing plans for my tiny house. I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people, including longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter from the rain. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I created activities for learning about art and Asian culture, learned from local artists and arts organizations, developed leadership skills, and used social media to build an online audience presence and generate interest in the museum’s programs and promote awareness of Asian-American discrimination during the pandemic. As an international adoptee born in China, I aim to become an architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their daily environment. My multicultural identity enables me to reimagine spaces and design them to be more inclusive, accessible, playful, and supportive of people with different needs and backgrounds. My experience living in small places, including a Chinese orphanage, a one-bedroom apartment in California, and a summer internship in Portugal also influenced my interest in architectural design. From a young age, I felt confined and wished to reconfigure the space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. Summer 2022 as an intern at two architectural firms in Lisbon, Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground, using AutoCAD to create a modular recycled plastic play structure that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware that most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces with low light and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. This scholarship, along with my undergraduate Architecture major, diverse experiences, and multicultural perspective, furthers my dream of becoming an architect who designs spaces that inspire and improve people's lives.

As a one-year-old, I was adopted from China by a single mom. During my childhood, I was encouraged by my mother to stay connected to both my cultures (Chinese and Jewish). Most importantly, my mother taught me the importance of social justice and the value of diversity. I learned Mandarin, visited China, trained in Shaolin Martial Arts, and played the Chinese Erhu. My mother exposed me to and I embraced Jewish culture by attending a Yiddish preschool, celebrating Jewish holidays, and having a non-traditional bat mitzvah. As a child, I built a Sukkah, a temporary shelter used during Sukkot. I later gifted this structure to a homeless person. I participated in Girls Garage, a nonprofit design and construction school for girls, especially girls of color, ages 9-18. Through classes in welding, architecture, and activist art, we were encouraged to build a world we wanted that would help others, driven by curiosity. We built a doghouse for a local animal shelter and designed and a bookshelf for a women's shelter. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I, along with other female interns, used art to educate people, including about Asian-American discrimination. My experience living in small places, including an orphanage in China, and a one-bedroom apartment in California with my Mom, influenced my interest in architecture and design. From a young age, I felt confined and wished to reconfigure the space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. While I could not open ceilings or knock down walls in our apartment, my mom encouraged me to build and design using Legos and Minecraft. In 2020, I attended UC Berkeley's embARC summer program with a scholarship. I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people. I included longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter. This past summer, as an intern at two architectural firms in Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered backyard sections, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground. I used AutoCAD to create a play structure made from recycled plastic that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Due to my mother's required travel for work, I have experienced life and architecture on three continents. As a result, I am aware most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. I am a junior at UCLA majoring in Architectural Studies. This program, along with my prior architecture courses, diverse experiences, internships, and multicultural perspectives, prepares me for my future dream of becoming an architect and pursuing graduate studies. Additionally, my multicultural identity provides me with an awareness to create innovative, multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs. I seek to design and build living spaces that improve people's lives while collaborating with colleagues around the world and becoming a role model for other women. Just as my Mom is the role model who inspires me.

As a Chinese-American adoptee who was raised by a single Mom and grew up in a 600-square-foot apartment, I aspire to design innovative, playful multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs. This Fall I was accepted to the UCLA Architectural Studies undergraduate program. My interest in STEAM began in middle school when I participated in Girls Garage, a non-profit organization that offered classes and encouraged girls, especially girls of color, to design and build to help others. Collaborating with other students, I learned to weld, designed and built a geodome, a dog house for a local animal shelter, and a modular bookshelf for a homeless women's shelter. My specific interest in Architecture and Design was solidified in high school when I was accepted into UC Berkeley’s embARC Summer Design Academy with a scholarship in 2020. This exciting opportunity expanded my knowledge of architecture, design, and sustainable urban planning. I learned Rhino 6, a design software, and created my 3D digital designs. I completed individual projects such as designing a pavilion to elevate the surrounding environment and developing plans for my tiny house. I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people, including longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter from the rain. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I created hands-on-activities for learning about art and Asian culture, learned from local artists and arts organizations, developed leadership skills, and used social media to build an online audience presence and generate interest in the museum’s programs and promote awareness of Asian-American discrimination during the pandemic. As an international adoptee born in China, I aim to become an architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their daily environment. My multicultural identity enables me to reimagine spaces and design them to be more inclusive, accessible, playful, and supportive of people with different needs and backgrounds. My experience living in small places, including a Chinese orphanage, a one-bedroom apartment in California, and a summer internship in Portugal also influenced my interest in architectural design. From a young age, I felt confined and wished to reconfigure the space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. Summer 2022 as an intern at two architectural firms in Lisbon, Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground, using AutoCAD to create a modular recycled plastic play structure that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware that most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces with low light and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. This scholarship, along with my undergraduate Architecture major, and diverse experiences, and multicultural perspective, furthers my dream of becoming an architect who designs spaces that inspire and improve people's lives.

I am passionate about architecture and design. This year I was accepted to the UCLA undergraduate architectural studies major. My multicultural identity as a Chinese-Jewish American adoptee, and my experience growing up in a 600-square-foot apartment, have inspired my architectural views. I aspire to create innovative, multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs. As a one-year-old, I was adopted from China by a single mom. During my childhood, I was encouraged by my mother to stay connected to both my cultures (Chinese and Jewish). I learned Mandarin, visited China, trained in Shaolin Martial Arts, and played the Chinese Erhu ( as an ethnomusicology minor, I still play Erhu in the UCLA advanced Chinese ensemble). I also embraced my Jewish culture by attending a Yiddish preschool, celebrating Jewish holidays, and having a non-traditional bat mitzvah. Most importantly, I was taught to value social justice and diversity. As a child, I built a Sukkah, a temporary shelter used during Sukkot. I later gifted this structure to a homeless person. I participated in Girls Garage, a nonprofit design and construction school for girls ages 9-18. Through classes in welding, architecture, and activist art, we were encouraged to build a world we wanted, driven by curiosity. In 2020, during UC Berkeley's embARC summer program, I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people. I included longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I, along with other female interns, used art to educate people, including about Asian-American discrimination. As an international adoptee, I aim to become an architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their environment. My multicultural identity enables me to reimagine spaces to be more inclusive, accessible, and supportive of people with different needs and backgrounds. At these times I feel most creative. My experience living in small places, including an orphanage in China, and a one-bedroom apartment in California, influenced my perspective on architecture. From a young age, I felt confined and wished to reconfigure the space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. This past summer, as an intern at two architectural firms in Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground and used AutoCAD to create a play structure made from recycled plastic that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. The UCLA Architecture program, along with my prior architecture courses, diverse experiences, internships, and multicultural perspective is preparing me for my future dream of becoming an architect and pursuing graduate studies. I would use the extra 24 hours to design and build living spaces that improve people's lives while collaborating with diverse colleagues and becoming a role model for other women of color.

This year I was accepted to the UCLA undergraduate major in architecture. Previously regarded as more of an arts and humanities subject, my understanding is architecture is now included along with other subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). My multicultural identity as a Chinese-Jewish American adoptee, and my experience growing up in a 600-square-foot apartment, have inspired my architectural views. I aspire to create innovative, multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs. As a one-year-old, I was adopted from China by a single Jewish mom. During my childhood, I was encouraged by my mother to stay connected to both my cultures (Chinese and Jewish). I learned Mandarin, visited China, trained in Shaolin Martial Arts, and played the Chinese Erhu. I also embraced my Jewish culture by attending a Yiddish preschool, celebrating Jewish holidays, and having a non-traditional bat mitzvah. Most importantly, I was taught to value social justice and diversity. As a child, I built a Sukkah, a temporary shelter used during Sukkot. I later gifted this structure to a homeless person. I participated in Girls Garage, a nonprofit design and construction school for girls ages 9-18. Through classes in welding, architecture, and activist art, we were encouraged to build a world we wanted, driven by curiosity. In 2020, during UC Berkeley's embARC summer program, I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people. I included longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I, along with other interns, used art to educate people, including about Asian-American discrimination. As an international adoptee, I aim to become an architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their environment. My multicultural identity enables me to reimagine spaces to be more inclusive, accessible, and supportive of people with different needs and backgrounds. My experience living in small places, including an orphanage in China, and a one-bedroom apartment in California, influenced my perspective on architecture. From a young age, I felt confined and wished to reconfigure the space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. This past summer, as an intern at two architectural firms in Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground and used AutoCAD to create a play structure made from recycled plastic that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. The hands-on and theoretical Architecture program at UCLA, along with my prior architecture courses, diverse experiences, internships, and multicultural perspective is preparing me for my future dream of becoming an architect and pursuing graduate studies. I seek to design and build living spaces that improve people's lives while collaborating with colleagues around the world and becoming a role model for other people interested in STEM.

This year I was accepted to the UCLA undergraduate major in architecture. Previously regarded as more of an arts and humanities subject, my understanding is architecture is now included along with other subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). My multicultural identity as a Chinese-Jewish American adoptee, and my experience growing up in a 600-square-foot apartment, have inspired my architectural views. I aspire to create innovative, multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs. As a one-year-old, I was adopted from China by a single mom. During my childhood, I was encouraged by my mother to stay connected to both my cultures (Chinese and Jewish). I learned Mandarin, visited China, trained in Shaolin Martial Arts, and played the Chinese Erhu. I also embraced my Jewish culture by attending a Yiddish preschool, celebrating Jewish holidays, and having a non-traditional bat mitzvah. Most importantly, I was taught to value social justice and diversity. As a child, I built a Sukkah, a temporary shelter used during Sukkot. I later gifted this structure to a homeless person. I participated in Girls Garage, a nonprofit design and construction school for girls ages 9-18. Through classes in welding, architecture, and activist art, we were encouraged to build a world we wanted, driven by curiosity. In 2020, during UC Berkeley's embARC summer program, I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people. I included longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I, along with other female interns, used art to educate people, including about Asian-American discrimination. As an international adoptee, I aim to become an architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their environment. My multicultural identity enables me to reimagine spaces to be more inclusive, accessible, and supportive of people with different needs and backgrounds. My experience living in small places, including an orphanage in China, and a one-bedroom apartment in California, influenced my perspective on architecture. From a young age, I felt confined and wished to reconfigure the space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. This past summer, as an intern at two architectural firms in Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground and used AutoCAD to create a play structure made from recycled plastic that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. The hands-on and theoretical Architecture program at UCLA, along with my prior architecture courses, diverse experiences, internships, and multicultural perspective is preparing me for my future dream of becoming an architect and pursuing graduate studies. I seek to design and build living spaces that improve people's lives while collaborating with colleagues around the world and becoming a role model for other women interested in STEM.

This year I was accepted to the UCLA undergraduate major in architecture. Previously regarded as more of an arts and humanities subject, my understanding is architecture is now included along with other subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). My multicultural identity as a Chinese-Jewish American adoptee, and my experience growing up in a 600-square-foot apartment, have inspired my architectural views. I aspire to create innovative, multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs. As a one-year-old, I was adopted from China by a single mom. During my childhood, I was encouraged by my mother to stay connected to both my cultures (Chinese and Jewish). I learned Mandarin, visited China, trained in Shaolin Martial Arts, and played the Chinese Erhu. I also embraced my Jewish culture by attending a Yiddish preschool, celebrating Jewish holidays, and having a non-traditional bat mitzvah. Most importantly, I was taught to value social justice and diversity. As a child, I built a Sukkah, a temporary shelter used during Sukkot. I later gifted this structure to a homeless person. I participated in Girls Garage, a nonprofit design and construction school for girls ages 9-18. Through classes in welding, architecture, and activist art, we were encouraged to build a world we wanted, driven by curiosity. In 2020, during UC Berkeley's embARC summer program, I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people. I included longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I, along with other female interns, used art to educate people, including about Asian-American discrimination. As an international adoptee, I aim to become an architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their environment. My multicultural identity enables me to reimagine spaces to be more inclusive, accessible, and supportive of people with different needs and backgrounds. My experience living in small places, including an orphanage in China, and a one-bedroom apartment in California, influenced my perspective on architecture. From a young age, I felt confined and wished to reconfigure the space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. This past summer, as an intern at two architectural firms in Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground and used AutoCAD to create a play structure made from recycled plastic that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. The hands-on and theoretical Architecture program at UCLA, along with my prior architecture courses, diverse experiences, internships, and multicultural perspective is preparing me for my future dream of becoming an architect and pursuing graduate studies. I seek to design and build living spaces that improve people's lives while collaborating with colleagues around the world and becoming a role model for other women interested in STEM.

My experience growing up with a single mother in a 600-square-foot apartment and my multicultural identity as a Chinese-Jewish American adoptee, have shaped the person I am today, including my passion for architecture. I aspire to create innovative, multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs. As a one-year-old, I was adopted from China by a single mom. During my childhood, I was encouraged by my mother to stay connected to both my Jewish and Chinese cultures. I learned Mandarin, visited China, trained in Shaolin Martial Arts, and played the Chinese Erhu, a musical instrument with two strings and a bow between them. I also embraced my Jewish culture by attending a Yiddish preschool, celebrating Jewish holidays, and having a non-traditional bat mitzvah. Most importantly, my single mother taught me to value social justice and diversity. As a child, I built a Sukkah, a temporary shelter used during the festival of Sukkot. I later gifted this structure to a homeless person. In 2020, at UC Berkeley's embARC summer program, I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people. I included longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter from the rain. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I used art to educate people, including about Asian-American discrimination during the pandemic. As an international adoptee, I aim to become an architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their daily environment. My multicultural identity enables me to reimagine spaces to be more inclusive, accessible, and supportive of people with different needs and backgrounds. My experience living in small places, including an orphanage in China, a one-bedroom apartment in California, and a summer internship in Portugal also influenced my passion for architecture. From a young age, I wished to reconfigure the small space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. This past summer, as an intern at two separate architectural firms in Lisbon, Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground and used AutoCAD to create a play structure made from recycled plastic that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having been raised by a single mom in a small apartment and experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces with low light and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. This year I was accepted to the UCLA undergraduate major in architectural studies. The hands-on and theoretical Architecture program at UCLA, along with my prior architecture courses, diverse experiences, internships, and multicultural perspective is preparing me for my dream of becoming a well-rounded architect and pursuing graduate studies. I seek to help others by designing and implementing living spaces that are multi-functional and improve people's lives.

I was adopted from China at a year old and spent the first year of my life in an orphanage and foster home. During elementary and middle school, I was successful in school with the assistance of an IEP and a 504 plan in high school. In first grade, I saw other kids reading while I could not. I thought I could hide the fact that I was struggling with reading because I was good at guessing the story based on visual cues. However, when my teachers asked me to read out loud, I couldn’t sound out the letters. In second grade, I was diagnosed with severe dyslexia and auditory processing challenges. After being diagnosed, I went through an early intensive intervention program that helped me learn to read, spell, and write. While I have worked twice as hard to get to the same level of reading and writing as other kids in my grade levels, I have never let that deter me. Quite the opposite. Throughout this process, I gained self-confidence and also learned to advocate for my accommodations, such as extra time, even though I often stay up late putting in the extra time. I have learned that having dyslexia is in no way a measurement of my intelligence, and I am proud of what I have accomplished and how capable I am. In my 10th-grade English class, I courageously wrote and gave a speech about dyslexia in front of the entire class. I educated my classmates on learning differences. I worked as a library proctor in eleventh grade, surrounded by books, and helped the librarians alphabetically reshelve books and check out books for my classmates. Currently, I am a third-year student at UCLA maintaining a high GPA. This year I was accepted into the Architectural Studies major. My interest in architecture was solidified during a 6-week summer program at the University of California, Berkeley's, School of Environmental Design, embARC program. Using Rhino 6 software, I designed a 3D pavilion and used my personal experience raised by a single mother and growing up in a 600-square-foot apartment to design a tiny home. I also developed a plan to improve homeless people's lives in Berkeley. I pitched a design to enhance public spaces for homeless people, specifically equipping public restrooms with free showers and drinking water stations. I also included longer park benches for sleeping areas and sculptures that could double as shade or shelter from the rain. ​There are many factors to consider in an architectural design such as public use, access for people with disabilities, as well as environmental and health effects. At UCLA, my goal is to use architecture as a tool for social change. Creating living spaces for me is more than designing a beautiful building; as an international adoptee, it's about making sure everyone has a place to live or a “home” and helping others in need while collaborating with colleagues from around the world. My challenges have led to my greatest strengths. I am hard-working, determined, resilient, creative, and ready for any educational challenge. After completing my undergraduate education with an architecture major and minor in ethnomusicology (I play the erhu, a Chinese string instrument in the advanced music ensemble), I plan to pursue graduate studies in Architecture.

I was recently accepted to the UCLA undergraduate architectural studies major. Previously regarded only as an arts and humanities subject, architecture is now included along with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEAM). As a STEAM field, architecture is important to the flourishing of our diverse communities. My multicultural identity as a Chinese-Jewish American adoptee, and my experience growing up in a 600-square-foot apartment, have inspired my architectural views about space. I aspire to create innovative, multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace a variety of human needs. As a one-year-old, I was adopted from China by a single Jewish mom. During my childhood, my mother encouraged me to stay connected to both my cultures. I learned Mandarin, visited China, trained in Shaolin Martial Arts, and played the Chinese Erhu, a musical instrument with two strings and a bow between them. I also embraced my Jewish culture by attending a Yiddish preschool, celebrating Jewish holidays, and having a non-traditional bat mitzvah. Most importantly, I was taught to value social justice. As a child, I built a Sukkah, a temporary shelter used during the holiday, Sukkot. I later gifted this structure to a homeless person. I participated in classes at Girl's Garage, a non-profit organization, and built a bookshelf for a local women's shelter. In 2020, at UC Berkeley's embARC summer program, I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people, including, longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that doubled as shelter from the rain. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I used art to educate people, including about Asian-American discrimination during the pandemic. As an international adoptee, I aim to become an architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their daily environment. My multicultural identity enables me to reimagine spaces to be more inclusive, accessible, and supportive of people with different needs and backgrounds. My experience living in small places, including an orphanage in China, a one-bedroom apartment in California, and a summer internship in Portugal also influenced my perspective on architecture. From a young age, I felt confined and wished to reconfigure the space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. This past summer, as an intern at two separate architectural firms in Lisbon, Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground and used AutoCAD to create a play structure made from recycled plastic that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces with low light and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. The hands-on and theoretical Architecture program at UCLA, along with my prior architecture courses, diverse experiences, and multicultural perspective is preparing me for my dream of becoming a well-rounded architect and pursuing graduate studies. I seek to help others by designing and implementing living spaces that are multi-functional and improve people's lives.

Like Dylan, while having a learning difference is challenging, I always pursue my higher educational goal of becoming an architect. During elementary and middle school, I was successful in school with the assistance of an IEP and a 504 plan in high school. In first grade, I saw other kids reading while I could not. I thought I could hide the fact that I was struggling with reading because I was really good at guessing the story based on visual cues. However, when my teachers asked me to read out loud, I couldn’t sound out the letters. In second grade, I was diagnosed with severe dyslexia and auditory processing challenges. After being diagnosed, I went through an early intensive intervention program that helped me learn to read, spell, and write. While I have worked twice as hard to get to the same level of reading and writing as other kids in my grade levels, I have never let that deter me. In fact, quite the opposite. Throughout this process, I gained self-confidence and also learned to advocate for my accommodations, such as extra time, even though I often stay up late putting in the extra time. I have learned that having dyslexia is in no way a measurement of my intelligence, and I am proud of what I have accomplished and how capable I am. In my 10th-grade English class, I courageously wrote and gave a speech about dyslexia in front of the entire class. I educated my classmates on learning differences. I worked as a library proctor in eleventh grade, surrounded by books, and helped the librarians alphabetically reshelve books and check out books for my fellow classmates. Currently, I am a third-year student at UCLA maintaining a high GPA. I was recently accepted into the Architectural Studies major. My interest in architecture was solidified during a 6-week summer program at the University of California, Berkeley's, School of Environmental Design, embARC program. Using Rhino 6 software, I designed a 3D pavilion and used my own personal experience raised by a single mother and growing up in a 600-square-foot apartment to design a tiny home. I also developed a plan to improve homeless people's lives in Berkeley. I pitched a design to enhance public spaces for homeless people, specifically equipping public restrooms with free showers and drinking water stations. I also included longer park benches for sleeping areas and sculptures that could double as shade or shelter from the rain. ​There are many factors to consider in an architectural design such as public use, access for people with disabilities, as well as environmental and health effects. At UCLA, my goal is to use architecture as a tool for social change. Creating living spaces for me is more than designing a beautiful building; as an international adoptee, it's about making sure everyone has a place to live or a “home” and helping others in need while collaborating with colleagues from around the world. My challenges have led to my greatest strengths. I am a good candidate for this scholarship since I am hard-working, determined, resilient, creative, and ready for any educational challenge.

As a Chinese-American adoptee who was raised by a single Mom and grew up in a 600-square-foot apartment, I aspire to design innovative, playful multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs. Recently I was accepted to the UCLA Architectural Studies undergraduate program. My interest in architecture and design began in middle school when I participated in Girls Garage, a non-profit organization that educated and encouraged girls to design and build. Collaborating with other students, I designed and built a geodome, a dog house for a local animal shelter, and a modular bookshelf for a women's shelter. My interest in Architecture and Design was solidified in high school when I was accepted into UC Berkeley’s embARC Summer Design Academy with a scholarship in 2020. This exciting opportunity expanded my knowledge of architecture, design, and sustainable urban planning. I learned Rhino 6, a design software, and created my 3D digital designs. I completed individual projects such as designing a pavilion to elevate the surrounding environment and developing plans for my tiny house. I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people, including longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter from the rain. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I created activities for learning about art and Asian culture, learned from local artists and arts organizations, developed leadership skills, and used social media to build an online audience presence and generate interest in the museum’s programs and promote awareness of Asian-American culture during the pandemic. As an international adoptee born in China, I aim to become an architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their daily environment. My multicultural identity enables me to reimagine spaces and design them to be more inclusive, accessible, playful, and supportive of people with different needs and backgrounds. My experience living in small places, including a Chinese orphanage, a one-bedroom apartment in California, and a summer internship in Portugal also influenced my interest in architectural design. From a young age, I wished to reconfigure the small space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. Summer 2022 as an intern at two architectural firms in Lisbon, Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground, using AutoCAD to create a modular recycled plastic play structure that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware that most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces with low light and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. This scholarship, along with my undergraduate Architecture major, ethnomusicology minor (I play the erhu in an advanced Chinese ensemble), diverse experiences, and multicultural perspective, furthers my dream of becoming an architect who designs spaces that inspire and improve people's lives.

I am humble yet driven, focused yet fun, and super yet human in the following ways: As a Chinese-American adoptee who was raised by a single Mom and grew up in a 600-square-foot apartment, I dream of becoming an architect who designs innovative, playful multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs.

My experience growing up with a single mother in a 600-square-foot apartment and my multicultural identity as a Chinese-Jewish American adoptee, have shaped the person I am today, including my architectural interest. I aspire to create innovative, multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs. As a one-year-old, I was adopted from China by a single Jewish mom. During my childhood, I was encouraged by my mother to stay connected to both my Jewish and Chinese cultures. I learned Mandarin, visited China, trained in Shaolin Martial Arts, and played the Chinese Erhu, a musical instrument with two strings and a bow between them. I also embraced my Jewish culture by attending a Yiddish preschool, celebrating Jewish holidays, and having a non-traditional bat mitzvah. Most importantly, my single mother taught me to value social justice. As a child, I built a Sukkah, a temporary shelter used during the festival of Sukkot. I later gifted this structure to a homeless person. In 2020, at UC Berkeley's embARC summer program, I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people. I included longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter from the rain. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I used art to educate people, including about Asian-American discrimination during the pandemic. As an international adoptee, I aim to become an architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their daily environment. My multicultural identity enables me to reimagine spaces to be more inclusive, accessible, and supportive of people with different needs and backgrounds. My experience living in small places, including an orphanage in China, a one-bedroom apartment in California, and a summer internship in Portugal also influenced my perspective on architecture. From a young age, I wished to reconfigure the small space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. This past summer, as an intern at two separate architectural firms in Lisbon, Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground and used AutoCAD to create a play structure made from recycled plastic that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having been raised by a single mom in a small apartment and experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces with low light and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. I was recently accepted to the UCLA undergraduate major in architectural studies. The hands-on and theoretical Architecture program at UCLA, along with my prior architecture courses, diverse experiences, and multicultural perspective is preparing me for my dream of becoming a well-rounded architect and pursuing graduate studies. I seek to help others by designing and implementing living spaces that are multi-functional and improve people's lives. Most importantly, my single mother provided me with both love and amazing growth opportunities that shaped the person I am today.

I embody the Luminaut values - humble yet hungry, focused yet fun, and super yet human in the following ways: As a Chinese-American adoptee who was raised by a single Mom and grew up in a 600-square-foot apartment, I aspire to design innovative, playful multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs. Recently I was accepted to the UCLA Architectural Studies undergraduate program. My interest in architecture and design began in middle school when I participated in Girls Garage, a non-profit organization that offered classes and encouraged girls to design and build. Collaborating with other students, I designed and built a geodome, a dog house for a local animal shelter, and a modular bookshelf for a women's shelter. My interest in Architecture and Design was solidified in high school when I was accepted into UC Berkeley’s embARC Summer Design Academy with a scholarship in 2020. This exciting opportunity expanded my knowledge of architecture, design, and sustainable urban planning. I learned Rhino 6, a design software, and created my 3D digital designs. I completed individual projects such as designing a pavilion to elevate the surrounding environment and developing plans for my tiny house. I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people, including longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter from the rain. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I created hands-on-activities for learning about art and Asian culture, learned from local artists and arts organizations, developed leadership skills, and used social media to build an online audience presence and generate interest in the museum’s programs and promote awareness of Asian-American culture during the pandemic. As an international adoptee born in China, I aim to become an architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their daily environment. My multicultural identity enables me to reimagine spaces and design them to be more inclusive, accessible, playful, and supportive of people with different needs and backgrounds. My experience living in small places, including a Chinese orphanage, a one-bedroom apartment in California, and a summer internship in Portugal also influenced my interest in architectural design. From a young age, I felt confined and wished to reconfigure the space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. Summer 2022 as an intern at two architectural firms in Lisbon, Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground, using AutoCAD to create a modular recycled plastic play structure that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware that most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces with low light and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. This scholarship, along with my undergraduate Architecture major, ethnomusicology minor (I play the erhu in an advanced Chinese ensemble), diverse experiences, and multicultural perspective, furthers my dream of becoming an architect who designs spaces that inspire and improve people's lives.

My multicultural identity as a Chinese-Jewish American adoptee, and my experience growing up in a 600-square-foot apartment, have inspired my decision to major in architecture. I aspire to create innovative, multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs. As a one-year-old, I was adopted from China by a single Jewish mom. During my childhood, I was encouraged by my mother to stay connected to my Chinese culture. I learned Mandarin, visited China, trained in Shaolin Martial Arts, and played the Chinese Erhu, a musical instrument with two strings and a bow between them. I also embraced my Jewish culture by attending a Yiddish preschool, celebrating Jewish holidays, and having a non-traditional bat mitzvah. Most importantly, I was taught to value social justice. As a child, I built a Sukkah, a temporary shelter used during the festival of Sukkot. I later gifted this structure to a homeless person living in a local park. In 2020, at UC Berkeley's embARC summer program, I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people. I included longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter from the rain. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I used art to educate people, including about Asian-American discrimination during the pandemic. As an international adoptee, I aim to become an architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their daily environment. My multicultural identity enables me to reimagine spaces to be more inclusive, accessible, and supportive of people with different needs and backgrounds. My experience living in small places, including an orphanage in China, a one-bedroom apartment in California, and a summer internship in Portugal also influenced my interest in architecture. From a young age, I felt confined and wished to reconfigure the space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. This past summer, as an intern at two separate architectural firms in Lisbon, Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground and used AutoCAD to create a play structure made from recycled plastic that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces with low light and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. I recently applied for and was accepted to the UCLA undergraduate major. The hands-on and theoretical Architecture program at UCLA, along with my prior courses, diverse experiences, and multicultural perspective is preparing me for my dream of becoming a well-rounded architect and pursuing graduate studies. I seek to help others by designing and implementing living spaces that are multi-functional and improve people's lives.

My multicultural identity as a Chinese-Jewish American adoptee, and my experience growing up in a 600-square-foot apartment, have inspired my decision to major in architecture. I aspire to create innovative, multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs. As a one-year-old, I was adopted from China by a single Jewish mom. During my childhood, I was encouraged by my mother to stay connected to my Chinese culture. I learned Mandarin, visited China, trained in Shaolin Martial Arts, and played the Chinese Erhu, a musical instrument with two strings and a bow between them. I also embraced my Jewish culture by attending a Yiddish preschool, celebrating Jewish holidays, and having a non-traditional bat mitzvah. Most importantly, I was taught to value social justice. As a child, I built a Sukkah, a temporary shelter used during the festival of Sukkot. I later gifted this structure to a homeless person living in a local park. In 2020, at UC Berkeley's embARC summer program, I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people. I included longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter from the rain. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I used art to educate people, including about Asian-American discrimination during the pandemic. As an international adoptee diagnosed with a learning difference, I aim to become an architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their daily environment. My multicultural identity enables me to reimagine spaces to be more inclusive, accessible, and supportive of people with different needs and backgrounds. My experience living in small places, including an orphanage in China, a one-bedroom apartment in California, and a summer internship in Portugal also influenced my interest in architecture. From a young age, I felt confined and wished to reconfigure the space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. This past summer, as an intern at two separate architectural firms in Lisbon, Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground and used AutoCAD to create a play structure made from recycled plastic that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces with low light and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. I recently applied for and was accepted to the UCLA undergraduate major. The hands-on and theoretical Architecture program at UCLA, along with my prior courses, diverse experiences, and multicultural perspective is preparing me for my dream of becoming a well-rounded architect and pursuing graduate studies. I seek to help others by designing and implementing living spaces that are multi-functional and improve people's lives.

My multicultural identity as a Chinese-Jewish American adoptee, and my experience growing up in a 600-square-foot apartment, have inspired my decision to major in architecture. I aspire to create innovative, multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs. As a one-year-old, I was adopted from China by a single Jewish mom. During my childhood, I was encouraged by my mother to stay connected to my Chinese culture. I learned Mandarin, visited China, trained in Shaolin Martial Arts, and played the Chinese Erhu, a musical instrument with two strings and a bow between them. I also embraced my Jewish culture by attending a Yiddish preschool, celebrating Jewish holidays, and having a non-traditional bat mitzvah. Most importantly, I was taught to value social justice. As a child, I built a Sukkah, a temporary shelter used during the festival of Sukkot. I later gifted this structure to a homeless person living in a local park. In 2020, at UC Berkeley's embARC summer program, I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people. I included longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter from the rain. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I used art to educate people, including about Asian-American discrimination during the pandemic. As an international adoptee, I aim to become an architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their daily environment. My multicultural identity enables me to reimagine spaces to be more inclusive, accessible, and supportive of people with different needs and backgrounds. My experience living in small places, including an orphanage in China, a one-bedroom apartment in California, and a summer internship in Portugal also influenced my interest in architecture. From a young age, I felt confined and wished to reconfigure the space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. This past summer, as an intern at two separate architectural firms in Lisbon, Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground and used AutoCAD to create a play structure made from recycled plastic that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces with low light and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. I recently applied for and was accepted to the UCLA undergraduate major. The hands-on and theoretical Architecture program at UCLA, along with my prior courses, diverse experiences, and multicultural perspective is preparing me for my dream of becoming a well-rounded architect and pursuing graduate studies. I seek to help others by designing and implementing living spaces that are multi-functional and improve people's lives.

I was recently accepted to the UCLA undergraduate major in architecture. Previously regarded as more of an arts and humanities subject, my understanding is architecture is now included along with other subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). My multicultural identity as a Chinese-Jewish American adoptee, and my experience growing up in a 600-square-foot apartment, have inspired my architectural views about space. I aspire to create innovative, multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs. As a one-year-old, I was adopted from China by a single Jewish mom. During my childhood, I was encouraged by my mother to stay connected to both my cultures. I learned Mandarin, visited China, trained in Shaolin Martial Arts, and played the Chinese Erhu, a musical instrument with two strings and a bow between them. I also embraced my Jewish culture by attending a Yiddish preschool, celebrating Jewish holidays, and having a non-traditional bat mitzvah. Most importantly, I was taught to value social justice. As a child, I built a Sukkah, a temporary shelter used during the festival of Sukkot. I later gifted this structure to a homeless person. In 2020, at UC Berkeley's embARC summer program, I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people. I included longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter from the rain. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I used art to educate people, including about Asian-American discrimination during the pandemic. As an international adoptee, I aim to become an architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their daily environment. My multicultural identity enables me to reimagine spaces to be more inclusive, accessible, and supportive of people with different needs and backgrounds. My experience living in small places, including an orphanage in China, a one-bedroom apartment in California, and a summer internship in Portugal also influenced my perspective on architecture. From a young age, I felt confined and wished to reconfigure the space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. This past summer, as an intern at two separate architectural firms in Lisbon, Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground and used AutoCAD to create a play structure made from recycled plastic that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces with low light and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. The hands-on and theoretical Architecture program at UCLA, along with my prior architecture courses, diverse experiences, and multicultural perspective is preparing me for my dream of becoming a well-rounded architect and pursuing graduate studies. I seek to help others by designing and implementing living spaces that are multi-functional and improve people's lives.

I was recently accepted to the UCLA undergraduate major in architecture. Previously regarded as more of an arts and humanities subject, my understanding is architecture is now included along with other subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). My multicultural identity as a Chinese-Jewish American adoptee, and my experience growing up in a 600-square-foot apartment, have inspired my architectural views about space. I aspire to create innovative, multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs. As a one-year-old, I was adopted from China by a single Jewish mom. During my childhood, I was encouraged by my mother to stay connected to both my Jewish and Chinese cultures. I learned Mandarin, visited China, trained in Shaolin Martial Arts, and played the Chinese Erhu, a musical instrument with two strings and a bow between them. I also embraced my Jewish culture by attending a Yiddish preschool, celebrating Jewish holidays, and having a non-traditional bat mitzvah. Most importantly, I was taught to value social justice. As a child, I built a Sukkah, a temporary shelter used during the festival of Sukkot. I later gifted this structure to a homeless person. In 2020, at UC Berkeley's embARC summer program, I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people. I included longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter from the rain. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I used art to educate people, including about Asian-American discrimination during the pandemic. As an international adoptee, I aim to become an architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their daily environment. My multicultural identity enables me to reimagine spaces to be more inclusive, accessible, and supportive of people with different needs and backgrounds. My experience living in small places, including an orphanage in China, a one-bedroom apartment in California, and a summer internship in Portugal also influenced my perspective on architecture. From a young age, I felt confined and wished to reconfigure the space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. This past summer, as an intern at two separate architectural firms in Lisbon, Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground and used AutoCAD to create a play structure made from recycled plastic that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces with low light and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. The hands-on and theoretical Architecture program at UCLA, along with my prior architecture courses, diverse experiences, and multicultural perspective is preparing me for my dream of becoming a well-rounded architect and pursuing graduate studies. I seek to help others by designing and implementing living spaces that are multi-functional and improve people's lives.

As a Chinese-American adoptee who was raised by a single Mom and grew up in a 600-square-foot apartment, I aspire to design innovative, multi-functional indoor-outdoor spaces that embrace diverse human needs. Recently I was accepted to the UCLA Architectural Studies undergraduate program. My interest in architecture and design began in middle school when I participated in Girls Garage, a non-profit organization that offered classes and encouraged girls to design and build. Collaborating with other students, I designed and built a geodome, a dog house for a local animal shelter, and a modular bookshelf and chair for a women's shelter. My interest in Architecture and Urban Design was further solidified in high school when I was accepted into UC Berkeley’s embARC Summer Design Academy with a full scholarship in 2020. This exciting opportunity allowed me to expand my knowledge of architecture, design, and sustainable urban planning. During the program, I learned Rhino 6, a design software, and created my 3D digital designs. I completed individual projects such as designing a pavilion to elevate the surrounding environment and developing plans for my tiny house. I pitched a design to improve the living conditions of homeless people, including longer park benches for sleeping and sculptures that can double as shade or shelter from the rain. Also, I interned at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum where I created hands-on-activities for learning about art and Asian culture, learned from local artists and arts organizations, developed leadership skills, and used social media to build an online audience presence and generate interest in the museum’s programs and promote awareness of Asian-American culture during the pandemic. As an international adoptee born in China, I aim to become an architect who helps people feel welcome and accepted in their daily environment. My multicultural identity enables me to reimagine spaces and design them to be more inclusive, accessible, and supportive of people with different needs and backgrounds. My experience living in small places, including an orphanage in China, a one-bedroom apartment in California, and a summer internship in Portugal also influenced my interest in architectural design. From a young age, I felt confined and wished to reconfigure the space around me. I imagined opening ceilings to the sky, incorporating floor-to-ceiling windows, and knocking down walls to invite nature inside. This past summer, as an intern at two architectural firms in Lisbon, Portugal, I learned how space can be reimagined using indoor-outdoor concepts and multi-functional design, while also preserving cultural and historical identity. During a construction site visit, I observed how optical illusions can defy spatial confinements. On a crowded city block, one apartment building was being converted into a four-story townhouse. The interior was small, yet it felt large. Each level had floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out onto separate tiered sections of the backyard, creating a relationship between the inside and the outside. While the interior was modernized, the historical building facade was preserved. I also participated in the conceptual development of a school playground and used AutoCAD to create a modular play structure made from recycled plastic that could be reconfigured into an outdoor classroom area. Having experienced life and architecture on three continents, I am aware that most people live in crowded conditions and small spaces with low light and I hope to address these limitations through my architectural designs. The UCLA Architecture undergraduate major, along with my prior UCLA architecture courses, diverse experiences, and multicultural perspective is preparing me for my dream of becoming a well-rounded architect, who designs spaces that are multi-functional and improve people’s lives.

My goal is to use architecture as a tool for social change while collaborating with diverse colleagues from around the world. Creating living spaces for me is more than designing a beautiful building; as an international adoptee, it's about making sure everyone has a place to live or a “home” and helping others in need.

As a baby, I was adopted from China by a single Jewish mom. Growing up in the U.S. my multicultural identity was complicated. People asked, “Is that your Mom, you don’t look alike?” or “How can you be Jewish if you’re Chinese?” I felt judged by others because being adopted and both Chinese and Jewish was different. My mother always encouraged my connection to both cultures. I am proud to be bilingual in Mandarin and English. I made several trips to China and during one of them, I visited my orphanage and met my Chinese foster parents. I learned about the people and culture of my birthplace, Fuling, Chongqing, from its spicy pickled cabbage to its historical roots as a river town. I am also proud to celebrate Jewish holidays with my Mom. I value that both my Chinese and Jewish cultures honor family, community, and education. I embrace my cultural richness and it is led to me being flexible and learning to think outside of the box. In school, I surrounded myself with diversity and joined a community that celebrated differences and self-expression; the colorful world of jazz. Starting out, I was the only female Asian-American trumpet player in the Berkeley High Jazz Program. Jazz has taught me to interpret the music how I wish, and that it’s my individuality that flows through that makes the music special. This connects to how I view my adoption and multicultural identity, defining how I wish to interpret and display it. As a female Asian-American jazz trumpet player, I also delighted in mentoring other girls of color during the annual jazz day for four years. I connect to my cultural roots by playing the Chinese erhu since I was seven years old. As part of the Great Wall Youth Orchestra, I performed in over 25 concerts. At UCLA, I study ethnomusicology at UCLA, exploring music from different regions. I perform in Advanced Chinese music ensemble. I also plan to double major in Architecture. My multiculturalism encourages my creativity. I had a paid internship at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum, with a focus on art, culture, and social activism. In 2020 at the University of California, Berkeley's, School of Environmental Design I was awarded a scholarship to attend embARC. During this program, I created 3D structures in Rhino 6, a design software, and used Adobe Illustrator to edit floor plans. I completed individual projects such as designing a pavilion meant to elevate the surrounding environment and creating plans for my own tiny house. I also pitched a design to improve homeless people's lives in Berkeley, specifically equipping public restrooms with free showers and drinking water stations. I also included longer park benches for sleeping areas and sculptures that could double as shade or shelter from the rain. There are many factors to consider in an architectural design such as public use, access for people with disabilities, as well as environmental and health effects. My goal is to use architecture as a tool for social change. Creating living spaces for me is more than designing a beautiful building; as an international adoptee, it's about making sure everyone has a place to live or a “home” and helping others in need while collaborating with diverse colleagues from around the world. At UCLA I share my multiculturalism with new friends while relating to our similarities and learning about our differences. I have learned the value of sharing my own uniqueness with the world. I am Jewish. I am Asian American. I am adopted. I am a daughter. I am proud.

As a baby, I was adopted from China by a single Jewish mom. I am proud to be bilingual in Mandarin and English. I made several trips to China including a visit to my orphanage and meeting my foster parents. I learned about the people and culture of my birthplace, Fuling, Chongqing, from its spicy pickled cabbage to its historical roots as a river town. I value that both my Chinese and Jewish cultures honor family, community, and education. I have come to revel in my cultural richness. I embraced both, becoming more self-confident, flexible, and learning to think outside of the box. In high school I surrounded myself with diversity and joined a community that celebrated differences and self-expression; the colorful world of jazz. Starting out, I was the only female Asian-American trumpet player in my high school jazz program. Jazz has taught me to interpret the music how I wish, and that it’s my individuality that flows through that makes the music special. This connects to how I view my multicultural identity, defining how I wish to interpret and display it. As a female Asian-American jazz trumpet player, I also delighted in mentoring other girls of color during the annual high school jazz day for the past four years. I connect to my Chinese cultural roots by playing the erhu, a two string musical instrument, since I was seven years old. As part of the Great Wall Youth Orchestra, I have performed in over 25 concerts. I also plan to double major in Architecture/Design. My multiculturalism encourages me to be creative. I had a paid internship at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum, with a focus on art, culture, and social activism. During Summer 2020, at University of California, Berkeley's, School of Environmental Design I was awarded a scholarship to attend embARC. Through this exciting program, I created 3D structures in Rhino 6, a design software, and used Adobe Illustrator to edit floor plans. I completed individual projects such as designing a pavilion meant to elevate the surrounding environment and creating plans for my own tiny house. My focus was on incorporating inside-outside living space to display the natural environment. The program highlighted the process of bringing my own ideas to life and encouraged me to become an innovative and collaborative thinker. I considered my design uses, concentrating on the finer details of architecture like composition, materials, and building placement. I also pitched a design to improve homeless people's lives in Berkeley, specifically equipping public restrooms with free showers and drinking water stations. I also included longer park benches for sleeping areas and sculptures that could double as shade or shelter from the rain. There are many factors to consider in an architectural design such as public use, access for people with disabilities, as well as environmental and health effects. My goal is to use architecture as a tool for social change. Creating living spaces for me is more than designing a beautiful building; as an international adoptee, it's about making sure everyone has a place to live or a “home” and helping others in need while collaborating with diverse colleagues from around the world.

I was successful in school with the assistance of an IEP during elementary and middle school and a 504 plan in high school. In first grade, I saw other kids reading while I could not. I thought I could hide the fact that I was struggling with reading because I was really good at guessing the story based on visual cues. But when my teachers asked me to read aloud, I couldn’t sound out the letters. While I was watching a television show called Horseland, they introduced a boy who had dyslexia, and I wondered if this was the condition that prevented me from being able to read as well as other kids my age. I remember pointing at the screen and asking my mother if that's what I had. In second grade, my Mom and teacher agreed I should be tested for a learning difference after I saw the word “pizza” on the page and read (guessed) “peanut butter.” I was diagnosed with severe dyslexia and auditory processing challenges. After being diagnosed, I went through an early intensive intervention program called Linda Mood Bell that helped me learn to read, spell, and write. While I have worked twice as hard to get to the same level of reading and writing as other kids in my grade levels, I have never let that deter me. In fact, quite the opposite. Throughout this process, I gained self-confidence and also learned to advocate for my accommodations, such as extra time. I often stay up late putting in the extra time. I have learned that having dyslexia is in no way a measurement of my intelligence, and I am proud of what I have accomplished and how capable I am. In high school, I maintained a high GPA, was a member of two honor societies, and successfully took college courses. I worked as a library proctor in eleventh grade, surrounded by books, and helped the librarians alphabetically reshelve books and checked out books for my fellow classmates. In my 10th grade English class, I courageously wrote and gave a speech about dyslexia in front of the entire class. I educated my classmates on learning differences. I am also an accomplished musician, playing both the Chinese erhu and Jazz trumpet. I am now completing my first year at UCLA and have earned a 4.96 GPA. While I may take longer to complete an assignment than others, I stay up late to complete my work by the deadline. I continue to play my erhu, a Chinese string instrument, in an advanced ensemble. In addition to majoring in ethnomusicology, I plan to double major in Architecture and Urban Design. There are many factors to consider in an architectural design such as public use, access for people with disabilities, as well as environmental and health effects. My goal is to use architecture as a tool for social change. Creating living spaces for me is more than designing a beautiful building; as an international adoptee, it is about making sure everyone has a place to live or a “home” and helping others in need while collaborating with diverse colleagues from around the world. Overall, my life lesson has been my challenges have also led to my greatest strengths; I am hard-working, determined, resilient, and creative and will use this knowledge to change the world.

I was adopted from China at one-year old by a single Mom. I have been successful in school with the assistance of an IEP during elementary and middle school and a 504 plan in high school. In first grade, I saw other kids reading while I could not. I thought I could hide the fact that I was struggling with reading because I was good at guessing the story based on visual cues. However, when my teachers asked me to read out loud, I couldn’t sound out the letters. In second grade, I was diagnosed with severe dyslexia and auditory processing challenges. After being diagnosed, I went through an early intensive intervention program that helped me learn to read, spell, and write. While I have worked twice as hard to get to the same level of reading and writing of other kids in my grade levels, I have never let that deter me. In fact, quite the opposite. Throughout this process, I gained self-confidence and also learned to advocate for my accommodations, such as extra time, even though I often stay up late putting in the extra time. I have learned that having dyslexia is in no way a measurement of my intelligence, and I am proud of what I have accomplished and how capable I am. I worked as a library proctor in eleventh grade, surrounded by books and helped the librarians alphabetically reshelve books and checked out books for my fellow classmates. In my 10th grade English class, I courageously wrote and gave a speech about dyslexia in front of the entire class. I educated my classmates on learning differences. My challenges have led to my greatest strengths. I am hard-working, determined, resilient, creative and was recently admitted to UCLA. My learning difference has informed my academic and career interests, especially music, architecture, and community service. Music is very important in my life, helping me strengthen my brain and body connection. Since I was seven years old, I studied a Chinese string instrument, the erhu every Saturday for four hours at Laney College. In 2013 I was promoted to the Great Wall Youth Orchestra and ultimately played with the advanced ensemble. As an adoptee from China, my participation in this youth orchestra connects me to my cultural roots. Also, I have played the trumpet since fourth grade. As a scholarship recipient, I took private and group lessons and attended music camps. I developed a passion for Jazz and I was a member of the Berkeley High Jazz Band. I have performed in many concerts with both instruments. I give back to the local Bay Area community, by mentoring younger musicians, including girls of color. Rather than take a fourth year science class, I deepened my music interests by taking both AP Music Theory and Jazz Ensemble. Currently, I perform my erhu with the UCLA Advanced Chinese Ensemble. Finally, I engage in community service, including volunteering in a family homeless shelter in Berkeley annually for ten years, building a community bookshelf for a local women’s homeless drop-in center in a Girl’s Garage workshop and at UC Berkeley School of Environmental Design embARC, developing a plan to improve the lives of homeless people in Berkeley. I hope to use architecture as a tool for social change and consider public use, access for people with disabilities, as well as environmental and health effects. My resilience has lead me to UCLA and I plan to double major in ethnomusicology and architecture. Through my own personal challenges, I have learned the importance of giving back to the community and helping those in need.

I plan to double major as an undergraduate in both ethnomusicology (music from around the world) and architecture/design at UCLA. Since I was seven years old, I studied a Chinese string instrument, the erhu every Saturday for four hours at Laney College. In 2013 I was promoted to the Great Wall Youth Orchestra and currently, I am in the advanced instrumental ensemble. As an adoptee from China, my participation in this youth orchestra connects me to my cultural roots. Also, I have played the trumpet since fourth grade. As a scholarship recipient, I took private and group lessons and attended music camps. I developed a passion for Jazz and currently, I am a member of the Berkeley High Jazz Band. I have performed in many concerts with both instruments. I give back to the local Bay Area community, by mentoring younger musicians, including girls of color. Rather than take a fourth-year science class this year, I deepened my music interests by taking both AP Music Theory and Jazz Lab. I also am interested in Architecture/Design as a career goal. Last summer at the University of California, Berkeley's, School of Environmental Design I was awarded a scholarship to attend embARC, a virtual program. Through this exciting six-week program, I furthered my skills in architecture and design. I created 3D structures in Rhino 6, a design software, and used Adobe Illustrator to edit floor plans. I completed individual projects such as designing a pavilion meant to elevate the surrounding environment and creating plans for my own tiny house. My focus was on incorporating inside-outside living space to display the natural environment. The program highlighted the process of bringing my own ideas to life and encouraged me to become an innovative thinker. I considered my design uses, concentrating on the finer details of architecture like composition, materials, and building placement. In embARC, I also developed a plan to improve homeless people's lives in Berkeley. I pitched a design to enhance public spaces for homeless people, specifically equipping public restrooms with free showers and drinking water stations. I also included longer park benches for sleeping areas and sculptures that could double as shade or shelter from the rain. There are many factors to consider in an architectural design such as public use, access for people with disabilities, as well as environmental and health effects. My goal is to use architecture as a tool for social change. Creating living spaces for me is more than designing a beautiful building; as an international adoptee, it's about making sure everyone has a place to live or a “home” and helping others in need while collaborating with diverse colleagues from around the world. Through my own personal challenges, I have learned the importance of giving back to the community and helping those in need. I engage in community service, including volunteering in a family homeless shelter in Berkeley annually for ten years, building a community bookshelf for a local women’s homeless drop-in center in a Girl’s Garage workshop and at UC Berkeley School of Environmental Design embARC, developing a plan to improve the lives of homeless people in Berkeley. I will use this award to support my full-time study at UCLA, where I have been accepted, and specifically to help pay for college expenses. In the future, I hope to attend a Master's Program in Architecture/Design.

As a baby, I was adopted from China by a single Jewish mom. Growing up my multicultural identity was complicated. I felt judged by others because being adopted and both Chinese and Jewish was different. My mother always encouraged my connection to both cultures. In high school, I realized I didn’t need to choose between my two cultures. I am proud to be fluent in both English and Mandarin. I made several trips to China and during one of them, I visited my orphanage and met my Chinese foster parents. I learned about the people and culture of my birthplace, Fuling, Chongqing, from its spicy pickled cabbage to its historical roots as a river town. I am also proud to celebrate Jewish holidays with my Mom. I value that both my Chinese and Jewish cultures honor family, community, and education. I have come to revel in my cultural richness. I embraced both, becoming more self-confident, flexible, and learning to think outside of the box and contribute back to the community. I chose to surround myself with diversity and joined a community that celebrated differences and self-expression; the colorful world of jazz. In 9th to 12th grade, I played trumpet in the Berkeley High Jazz Program where I collaborate with fellow musicians and compete at jazz festivals. I even participated in a cultural exchange at the Cuban National School of Music. I use improvisation as an inside joke, like playing quotes from a transcribed solo of another jazz artist. Only people who play or listen to a lot of jazz notice. Other times, I play something recognizable in my solos, like the beginning of the infamous Pink Panther theme song; then everyone understands the joke. Music allows me to showcase my fun side by reflecting my humor in my solos. Jazz has taught me to interpret the music how I wish, and that it’s my individuality that flows through that makes the music special. This connects to how I view my multicultural identity, defining how I wish to interpret and display it. As a female Asian-American jazz trumpet player, I also delighted in mentoring other girls of color during the annual high school jazz day for the past four years. I also connect to my Chinese cultural roots by playing the Chinese erhu, a two-string instrument, since I was seven years old. I was a member of the Great Wall Youth Orchestra. As part of the program, I have taken more than 35 concurrent high school units at Laney College. I have performed in over 25 concerts including at Laney College Performance Art Center, a Block Party in Oakland with Yo-Yo Ma, and the 150th Anniversary of Marin China Camp, a Chinese shrimp village. For my non-traditional Bat Mitzvah, I represented both my cultures by blowing into a shofar, made of goat’s horn and probably being the first person to play a popular Jewish song on the Chinese erhu. When I am playing the erhu or the trumpet, listening to a jazz performance, or sharing a song with a friend, I am in my element. Performing music from and in other cultures, especially China and Cuba, inspires me to want to learn about and engage with people from around the world. At UCLA, as an ethnomusicology major, I will not only deepen my interest in Asian music, through Musical Cultures of Asia but also explore music from different regions through Music Around the World. I will continue to perform in music ensembles and collaborate between performance and scholarship. In the future, I am interested in a career in which music intersects with other art forms such as architecture, designing an indoor-outdoor music pavilion for people to enjoy music in a public space. I plan to double major in Architecture/Design My multi-culturalism encourages me to be creative. Currently, I have a paid internship at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum, with a focus on art, culture, and social activism. Last summer at the University of California, Berkeley's, School of Environmental Design I was awarded a scholarship to attend embARC, a virtual program. Through this exciting six-week program, I created 3D structures in Rhino 6, a design software, and used Adobe Illustrator to edit floor plans. I completed individual projects such as designing a pavilion meant to elevate the surrounding environment and creating plans for my own tiny house. My focus was on incorporating inside-outside living space to display the natural environment. The program highlighted the process of bringing my own ideas to life and encouraged me to become an innovative thinker. I considered my design uses, concentrating on the finer details of architecture like composition, materials, and building placement. I also developed a plan to improve homeless people's lives in Berkeley. I pitched a design to enhance public spaces for homeless people, specifically equipping public restrooms with free showers and drinking water stations. I also included longer park benches for sleeping areas and sculptures that could double as shade or shelter from the rain. There are many factors to consider in an architectural design such as public use, access for people with disabilities, as well as environmental and health effects. My goal is to use architecture as a tool for social change. Creating living spaces for me is more than designing a beautiful building; as an international adoptee, it's about making sure everyone has a place to live or a “home” and helping others in need while collaborating with diverse colleagues from around the world. I look forward to creating a new community at UCLA, sharing my multiculturalism with new friends while relating to our similarities and learning about our differences. I have learned the value of sharing my own uniqueness with the world. I am Jewish. I am Chinese. I am Asian-American. I am adopted. I am a daughter. I am proud.

I plan to double major as an undergraduate in both ethnomusicology (music from around the world) and architecture/design at UCLA. Since I was seven years old, I studied a Chinese string instrument, the erhu every Saturday for four hours at Laney College. In 2013 I was promoted to the Great Wall Youth Orchestra and currently, I am in the advanced instrumental ensemble. As an adoptee from China, my participation in this youth orchestra connects me to my cultural roots. Also, I have played the trumpet since fourth grade. As a scholarship recipient, I took private and group lessons and attended music camps. I developed a passion for Jazz and currently, I am a member of the Berkeley High Jazz Band. I have performed in many concerts with both instruments. I give back to the local Bay Area community, by mentoring younger musicians, including girls of color. Rather than take a fourth-year science class this year, I deepened my music interests by taking both AP Music Theory and Jazz Lab. I also am interested in Architecture/Design as a career goal. Last summer at the University of California, Berkeley's, School of Environmental Design I was awarded a scholarship to attend embARC, a virtual program. Through this exciting six-week program, I furthered my skills in architecture and design. I created 3D structures in Rhino 6, a design software, and used Adobe Illustrator to edit floor plans. I completed individual projects such as designing a pavilion meant to elevate the surrounding environment and creating plans for my own tiny house. My focus was on incorporating inside-outside living space to display the natural environment. The program highlighted the process of bringing my own ideas to life and encouraged me to become an innovative thinker. I considered my design uses, concentrating on the finer details of architecture like composition, materials, and building placement. In embARC, I also developed a plan to improve homeless people's lives in Berkeley. I pitched a design to enhance public spaces for homeless people, specifically equipping public restrooms with free showers and drinking water stations. I also included longer park benches for sleeping areas and sculptures that could double as shade or shelter from rain. There are many factors to consider in an architectural design such as public use, access for people with disabilities, as well as environmental and health effects. My goal is to use architecture as a tool for social change. Creating living spaces for me is more than designing a beautiful building; as an international adoptee, it's about making sure everyone has a place to live or a “home” and helping others in need while collaborating with diverse colleagues from around the world. Through my own personal challenges, I have learned the importance of giving back to the community and helping those in need. I engage in community service, including volunteering in a family homeless shelter in Berkeley annually for ten years, building a community bookshelf for a local women’s homeless drop-in center in a Girl’s Garage workshop and at UC Berkeley School of Environmental Design embARC, developing a plan to improve the lives of homeless people in Berkeley. I will use this award to support my full-time study at an accredited university and specifically to help pay for college expenses. In the future, I hope to attend a Master's Program in Architecture/Design.

As a Chinese adoptee, raised by a single mom in a bi-cultural home (Chinese and Jewish), I connect to both cultures through my music. Since I was seven years old, I have been playing the Chinese erhu, a two-stringed bowed musical instrument, and I have been a member of the Chinese Great Wall Youth Orchestra at Laney Community College. As part of the program, I have taken 36 concurrent high school music class units at Laney College including Chinese Orchestra, Chinese Opera, and Instrumental Ensemble. I have performed in over 25 concerts including at Laney College Performance Art Center, a Block Party in Oakland with Yo-Yo Ma, and the 150th Anniversary of Marin China Camp. For my non-traditional Bat Mitzvah, I represented both my cultures by blowing into a shofar, made of goat’s horn and probably being the first person to play a popular Jewish song on the Chinese erhu. The colorful world of jazz is also a community I call home. I have been playing trumpet since 4th grade and participated in the Berkeley High Jazz Program from 9th to 12th grade. Playing music connects me to diverse people by sharing our mutual enjoyment of music. We feed off each other’s positive energy making even better music. When collaborating with my fellow musicians, we participate in a call and response, highlighting that everyone has a unique voice through our music. During rehearsals, I can identify everyone’s individual sound and stylistic choices. The connection runs so deep I anticipate what people will play. For instance, one friend likes to play fast melodic eighth notes on the flute, while a second friend likes to mimic Wayne Bergeron’s high notes on the trumpet. When I hear an Ab chord, another friend who plays tenor saxophone will likely incorporate the opening riff to Charlie Parker’s Donna Lee in her solo. I realized not only does my own individuality flow through my trumpet but it is the collaborative nature of jazz that makes it special. Berkeley High Jazz is a melting pot of diverse people and ideas that come together and connect with each other to express the relationship of rhythms, notes, and tones on stage. It is everyone’s contribution that makes it a community that feels like home. When I am playing the erhu or the trumpet, listening to a jazz performance, or sharing a song with a friend, I am in my element. Performing music from and in other cultures, especially China and Cuba, inspired me to want to learn about and engage with music from around the world. I have been accepted at UCLA for Fall 2021. UCLA offers the opportunity to do so by combining hands-on experience with a worldwide music collection and academic coursework taught by faculty representing different cultural backgrounds. At UCLA in the Bachelor of Arts in Ethnomusicology, I will not only deepen my interest in Asian and Jazz music but also explore music from different regions through Music Around the World. I want to learn how music relates to other aspects of culture, society, politics, and economics. At UCLA I will continue to perform in music ensembles and collaborate between performance and scholarship. In the future, I am interested in a career in which music intersects with other art forms such as architecture, designing an indoor-outdoor music pavilion for people to enjoy music in a public space.

As a baby, I was adopted from China by a single Jewish mom. I became a US citizen, an Asian American, upon landing at San Francisco International Airport. Growing up my multicultural identity was complicated. People asked, “Is that your Mom, you don’t look alike?” or “How can you be Jewish if you’re Chinese?” I felt judged by others because being adopted and both Chinese and Jewish was different. My mother always encouraged my connection to both cultures. I stuffed my face with mooncakes for Chinese New Year and challah bread for the Jewish New Year. In high school, I realized I didn’t need to choose between my two cultures. I am proud to be bilingual in Mandarin and English. I made several trips to China and during one of them, I visited my orphanage and met my Chinese foster parents. I learned about the people and culture of my birthplace, Fuling, Chongqing, from its spicy pickled cabbage to its historical roots as a river town. I am also proud to celebrate Jewish holidays with my Mom, from lighting candles on the menorah every Hanukkah to eating matzah during Passover. I value that both my Chinese and Jewish cultures honor family, community, and education. I have come to revel in my cultural richness. I embraced both, becoming more self-confident, flexible, and learning to think outside of the box. I chose to surround myself with diversity and joined a community that celebrated differences and self-expression; the colorful world of jazz. Starting out, I was the only female Asian-American trumpet player in the Berkeley High Jazz Program. I collaborate with fellow musicians and compete at jazz festivals. I use improvisation as an inside joke, like playing quotes from a transcribed solo of another jazz artist. Only people who play or listen to a lot of jazz notice. Other times, I play something recognizable in my solos, like the beginning of the infamous Pink Panther theme song; then everyone understands the joke. Music allows me to showcase my fun side by reflecting my humor in my solos. Jazz has taught me to interpret the music how I wish, and that it’s my individuality that flows through that makes the music special. This connects to how I view my multicultural identity, defining how I wish to interpret and display it. As a female Asian-American jazz trumpet player, I also delight in mentoring other girls of color during the annual high school jazz day for the past four years. I connect to my cultural roots by playing the Chinese erhu since I was seven years old. Currently, I am a member of the Great Wall Youth Orchestra. As part of the program, I have taken more than 35 concurrent high school units at Laney College. I have performed in over 25 concerts including at Laney College Performance Art Center, a Block Party in Oakland with Yo-Yo Ma, and the 150th Anniversary of Marin China Camp, a Chinese shrimp village. For my non-traditional Bat Mitzvah, I represented both my cultures by blowing into a shofar, made of goat’s horn, and probably being the first person to play a popular Jewish song on the Chinese erhu. When I am playing the erhu or the trumpet, listening to a jazz performance, or sharing a song with a friend, I am in my element. Performing music from and in other cultures, especially China and Cuba, inspires me to want to learn about and engage with people from around the world. I plan to study ethnomusicology at UCLA. I will not only deepen my interest in Asian music but also explore music from different regions through Music Around the World. I will continue to perform in music ensembles and connect performance and scholarship. In the future, I am interested in a career in which music intersects with other art forms such as architecture, designing an indoor-outdoor music pavilion for people to enjoy music in a public space. I also plan to double major in Architecture/Design. My multiculturalism encourages me to be creative. Currently, I have a paid internship at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum, with a focus on art, culture, and social activism. Last summer at the University of California, Berkeley's, School of Environmental Design I was awarded a scholarship to attend embARC. Through this exciting program, I created 3D structures in Rhino 6, a design software, and used Adobe Illustrator to edit floor plans. I completed individual projects such as designing a pavilion meant to elevate the surrounding environment and creating plans for my own tiny house. My focus was on incorporating inside-outside living space to display the natural environment. The program highlighted the process of bringing my own ideas to life and encouraged me to become an innovative and collaborative thinker. I considered my design uses, concentrating on the finer details of architecture like composition, materials, and building placement. I also pitched a design to improve homeless people's lives in Berkeley, specifically equipping public restrooms with free showers and drinking water stations. I also included longer park benches for sleeping areas and sculptures that could double as shade or shelter from the rain. There are many factors to consider in an architectural design such as public use, access for people with disabilities, as well as environmental and health effects. My goal is to use architecture as a tool for social change. Creating living spaces for me is more than designing a beautiful building; as an international adoptee, it's about making sure everyone has a place to live or a “home” and helping others in need while collaborating with diverse colleagues from around the world. I look forward to creating a new community at UCLA, sharing my multiculturalism with new friends while relating to our similarities and learning about our differences. I have learned the value of sharing my own uniqueness with the world. I am Jewish. I am Asian American. I am adopted. I am a daughter. I am proud.