A recent simple pleasure of mine is press-on nails. I bought my first box at the nearby Rite Aid last month. Each box comes with two sets of fingernails, a glue bottle, a nail file, and a cuticle pusher for only 8 dollars. Although each set lasts a short amount of time, about a week, I cherish every part of it. Here are the reasons why press-on nails make me so happy: - The act of treating myself just generates natural happiness. - I am freeing myself from my restricting money dysmorphia (the belief that I have no money, guilt of spending, fear of debt, etc) and minimalist ego (the belief that less is more and that materialistic gifts bring no proper value). - I am protecting my nails from long-term stress biting, relieving the pressure and trauma to my nails, and keeping them away from possible infection. - I feel pretty and elegant, which is very fulfilling as I am reconnecting with my femininity from being a tomboy for so long. I also get to compliment and learn from other women's sets. - Nails are a form of art as there are many designs, shapes, and styles. It allows me to be creative. In conclusion, I don't care if they are cheap or tacky or lift-off easily; I am just happy that they're on and there to make my week.

I'm going to talk about my friend Aya and what she means to me. We met casually through classmates during school but didn't get to know each other until quarantine. For some, the isolation rid friendships, but for Aya and I, we only grew. We connected daily through a group chat, sending memes to each other, hosting movie nights, talking for hours, studying together, and participating in the Chloe Ting exercise challenges, all on Zoom or Google Meets. We bonded over similar interests, political views, and virtual team activities. As the days went by, I got to learn more about her overall demeanor and special details. She's confident as an introvert and prioritizes her energy. She loves to laugh out loud and through texts with emojis and interjections. She asks a bunch of questions to help process serious subjects. She's loyal, supportive, determined, assertive, kind, and free. I love her personality and aura. I love the way she sees the world in a positive light, while also being realistic and logical. She's shown me that friendships can be created and nurtured despite all odds (such as a pandemic). She's relieved the pressure of having to always be there physically or reply to texts immediately by reassuring me that people are entitled to their time and space. She has encouraged me to take opportunities despite doubts of imposter syndrome or lack of qualifications because at least I would be trying my best and maximizing my potential. Friendship means a growing together. Kind of like a seesaw, being together through the ups and downs but being the reason the other can go up and stay balanced. I'm so happy to have been a part of her journey in growing confidence and maturity, and that she can say the same about me.

Love Story by Taylor Swift. One day I was singing karaoke with my dad. The lyrics were displayed on the screen. He understood the references to Romeo and Juliet and was fascinated by the song’s story telling. Then, the bridge approached and once I sung, “He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said-“ my dad just spun around in shock and excitement. After that reaction, Love Story is now my favorite song. I always remember his reaction whenever I listen to the song. The vocals inspire me to keep singing and exploring techniques, such as falsettos and belts. The lyrics inspire me to keep song writing and put effort into them so that the person can feel the song. The experience inspires me to keep spending time with the people I love and to cherish every moment. And I just love the song itself like the references, heartfelt emotions, story telling, etc. I’m very proud of Taylor Swift and will continue to admire her and her journey.

There’s this restaurant in Lowell called Red Rose. I go to Lowell often because of it’s Cambodian community. In the restaurant, I see the displays of art from the country. I saw a painting of a woman wearing a traditional Apsara outfit and posing. I saw a painting of a boy fishing with his hands in the lake. I saw a painting of a rice pond, with elderly collecting the harvest. These art pieces bring me peace and joy to see the beauty of my parents country. I’ve visted Cambodia a few times in my life and each time has been wonderful. To just observe the people and take it all in. It inspires me to continue my travels and see it all one day. Not just the glamourous tourist spots, but also the simple life of the country. Where the people fish, harvest, and wash laundry by hand. Where the children play and run in the field. Where the woman elegantly sit in beauty. I’m just fulfilled and proud whenever I look at those paintings in the restaurant.

“Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving” by Celeste Headlee. This book validated my feelings of burn out and rid the need for constant productivity. I learned about historical labor laws, workers movements, and wage inflations. About how unsustainable current work environments are and the American Dream. How we’ve built technology to increase efficiency with time when actually it’s given us an excuse to keep working and hustling. For example, work would end when the sun would set because people couldn’t see. But now with lightbulbs, people work for hours past darkness, increasing sleep deprivation and stress. Minimum wage expects maximum effort, and everyone is in this state of fear and competition. There’s like a curse of ambition to strive for the best most productive work at all times. The book opened my eyes to the entire system of productivity, work, and capitalism. It helped me understand that I’m doing more work than I should be and that it’s not even adding to my self fulfillment. It made me feel bad for the workers who are still stuck in poor conditions (such as my parents) and those who can’t take sick or vacation days which in turn continues to deteriorate their health. I was appalled and scared after reading this, scared that I would never be able to escape this expectation and system. But I was able to make a few changes in my routine and mindset. I was able to accept the circumstances and fight against it by choosing what was best for me. I began to put myself first and choose me before academic and work pressures. I’ve become less stressed when it comes to work because I’ve taken my power back thanks to this book.

Min Yoongi said, “Giving something up decisively takes lots of courage.” This quote is a great refresher to hustle culture and an encouragement to plunge into the unknown. I resonate with this quote because of my journey in math: After years of unhappiness from the overwhelming curriculum and competition, trying to follow the AP track, and please the gifted child mindset I held onto from 6th grade, I let go of my ego. I decided to take Intro To Stats instead of AP stats for my final year. I also opted out of the AP Calculus exam and just decided to take the final. At first, it felt like I had stopped challenging myself and downgraded. I felt that I let down everyone, from my teachers to myself. But in actuality, I have freed myself from my restricting plans and ideology of efficiency. With the relief and free time I've gained from choosing the Intro To Stats class, and the reassurance and support I have from Min's words, I can focus more on what is important to me. I was under the curse of ambition. I was unsatisfied, overwhelmed, and unwilling to do the simple act of choosing the right level class for me because I was afraid of not comparing well to my past reputations. But ever since that day where I decided enough was enough, I have begun to trust myself more. To listen to my intuition more so I can balance it out with my reliance on logic. Some may say emotions are too spontaneous to be relied on for choices. But I trust my body. I trust my heart. It took me awhile to be brave enough to, but now that I’m here, I’ll continue to.

Confidence is one’s ability to be content with themselves. When they stop comparison because that leads to jealousy and higher ego, and learn to appreciate the world around them. They are secure in their abilities to be great and desire nothing more. Not that they’ve stopped looking to improve themselves or decreased their ambition, but rather, they are satisfied and are grateful for the things they’ve already accomplished. Basically, they go with the flow. One thing that I’ve become more confident in is my social skills. I used to have social anxiety around the beginning of high school. I thought putting myself out there and initiating conversation would help, but I ended up more anxious and drained every time. I was not ready, and would beat myself up for it. What actually helped me was putting myself back in my comfort zone, and taking it slow. I made friends through text, away from their tones, facial expressions, and immediate response requirements. Then call, this time I don’t have to see their face. Then FaceTime, I could be in the comfort of my room. Then finally, real life, after I’ve gotten to know this person through many forms of communication. I also checked in myself to see what I really wanted. For example, did I actually want a lot of friends or did I just want the happiness I saw others gaining from it? It was the latter, and fortunately, with enough time and patience, I was able to get it from myself. I learned to forgive myself for awkward situations and not to force conversations if I wasn’t comfortable. I also learned how unjudgmental majority of people are, and that they have their ups and downs with socializing as well and will take their time to understand.

The foundational components of a successful study routine are style, environment, and attitude. My predominant learning styles are auditory and visual. I utilize animated and presentation-style resources when reviewing topics. For example, I watch Crash Course, Amoeba Sisters, and Khan Academy to study AP Biology. I read out loud notes to myself or others as if I am teaching a class to hear how my understanding sounds. I use the Pomodoro method to pace myself, essentially studying for 25 minutes and resting for 5 minutes. In addition to chunking up time, I also break up the task into manageable amounts per day. My ideal study space is comfortable and cozy. At home, I study alone on either my bed or couch with low-volume piano jazz music playing in the background. I let the natural light in during the day to energize and use a dim light at night to calm. At school, I study with friends in either the library or guidance counselors office because they have snacks. I have befriended many classmates on the common interest of wanting to succeed academically; With time, we become comfortable with each other and the subject. My priorities regarding academics are completion and rest. Completion overrules perfection. I would rather have an assignment done with a few mistakes than an assignment abandoned out of fear of failure. And rest overrules work. I would rather sleep enough hours and turn in work late than stay up through a sleep-deprived state. To compensate, I wake up early to finish my work because then I would have taken a restful break. These strategies have improved the relationship between me and my academics. Some methods were deliberate, while others were ironic. Today, I have more patience, forgiveness, discipline, and company than ever before when achieving academic success.

One physical adversity of mine is my skin. The conditions I have are eczema, allergy-induced hives, scalp psoriasis, and acne. Eczema gives me patchy legs and blistering fingers that irritate by contact. Hives form clusters of blistering, flaking, thick bumps on my lower back, ankles, and hands. Psoriasis causes wet flaky dandruff on the back of my head. And acne produces pimples all over my face. A commonality between the four is that my skin becomes inflamed and itchy. My body is in a constant state of uncomfortableness and pain, which is tiring to endure. But I still treat it with patience and care as these conditions can only be coped with, not overcome. So, I moisturize daily with Vaseline to treat eczema. I received seven allergy shots weekly for over three years and now apply ointments on my hives. I shampoo with a medicated formula and apply a liquid to areas when dry. And I took acne medication for two months and now use two prescribed lotions. My takeaways from these circumstances are to consult dermatologists and appreciate the body. Sometimes we try our best, but it's not enough on our own. And that's okay because we can always get the help we need by asking. Dermatology is a field I am interested in pursuing so I can provide the resources to those that are suffering like me. And even if I don’t act upon the advice, I will continue watching videos and reading articles about skincare and skin conditions because it’s just fascinating.

The organization I served on the weekends during my freshman year was called the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter. Our service was to cook and provide freshly cooked meals to about 40 homeless people on whatever day we volunteered (Friday, Saturday, or Sunday). I took upon this opportunity for myself and my community. For myself, I would learn how cook, use my free time practically, and manage/socialize with my team. And for my community, they would have a warm and safe place to eat and sleep in. The experience taught me how affordable and easy it is to cook. We had a budget of $80 and fed about 40 people in addition to ourselves, which meant each plate with every food group came to be less than $2! I learned what foods to purchase, how to make the most of frozen substitutes, how to prepare chicken breasts, how to stir fry vegetables, and bake desserts. Besides cooking, I socialized with my teammates. Teams consisted of five to seven people, and it was different every time as anyone could volunteer and sign up for any day they were available. We had to assign stations (meat, vegetables, dessert, and starch table), communicate cooking times, wash and sanitize dishes, and serve the homeless. Although it was tiring on the feet and hot from the steam, it was fun to converse and just cook together for hours. We would also talk about school and each other when preparing the food to make it more enjoyable. The best part was after the hours of cooking when we could serve the people. When we knew they had bunk beds to stay in, TV to watch, computers to do work, and of course, a dinner table to eat. We would eat and converse with the homeless and learn about them. I remember one very sweet woman who was seeking a job and trying to get her degree. I remember a reserved man who would watch football with his earbuds in. And I remember a college student who had been injured but was lucky enough to stay for the night. On the last volunteer day of freshman year, the friends that I had made through the year and program were there, and it was just us hanging out for a greater cause. And on the final party of the program, we all made spaghetti and handed them out the homeless in Harvard who weren’t as fortunate to receive a place to stay in the shelter. It was such a joy to see them emerge from their blankets in the train station to actually eat and converse among themselves. Then we all went out for ice cream afterwards. Clearly, I don’t have one memorable moment or takeaway from this experience. I’m just so grateful for everything I learned and did with everyone.

Diligent: I had nothing else to do in the summer and did not want to waste it on my phone, so I took up the volunteering opportunity at Beachmont. I already have enough hours, and I don't want to be a teacher, so why donate time and effort? Since my drive in life is to help people and explore, doing this would alleviate boredom, assist a few teachers, and get a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes process. So for 3 hours, I completed tedious tasks such as cleaning the whiteboards, taping papers into notebooks, and paperclipping packets. This experience exposed to me how involved teachers are at their work and how a few hours of diligent work from me does not compare to their daily duties. Today, I continue to volunteer in my school. Whether it’s organizing books in the library or cleaning up after a lab, I enjoy helping others to keep everything in peace and order.

Compassion: the sympathetic acknowledgment and urge to help someone. Whenever my father recalls and recounts stories of his experience during the Khmer Rouge to me, my heart aches for the boy who was so young that had to endure those times. It also makes me wonder how much of the man he is today has grown. While these conversations are painful, they help strengthen our relationship as we build trust. Those memories are painful, so it makes sense to suppress or forget, but I bring them up for him to be heard or properly let go. It also helps me understand parts of his manner, personality, and behaviors. After listening, I allow the silence, give advice, reassure him, ask more questions, or redirect him to different resources. I know listening and showing genuine interest is already helping him, so anything else I can do that helps him feel understood, appreciated, and taken care of is amazing.

I am interested in becoming a nurse practitioner with a specialty in psychiatry. I have been a part of many social, general, and health science courses, internships, and clubs throughout high school. I take care of my family by listening and helping them, such as raising my brother, consoling my mother, and caring for my father. I enjoy studying psychology in my free time through videos, observations, and interactions with others. From elementary to middle school, my mom suggested that I become a pharmacist for the bountiful salary. I agreed, finding interest in the way a drug can alter a person's mind and behavior. So I had a knack for psychology at a young age before I even knew what it was. The drive to pursue this career came from experiencing depression and anxiety from the 8th to the 11th grade. It was a lonely, pessimistic, and tiring era. I have grown since then, no longer feeling mentally and physically exhausted nor anxious around everyone, even friends. If it weren't for the care of my therapist, knowledge from workshops and videos, and the self-awareness I had of my previous mental state, I would not be as strong and resilient as I am today. Thus, I want to continue learning and growing to become the person I needed the most back then. A professional that listens, understands, provides a warm presence, and takes action to ensure the wellbeing of others. Although psychology is my subject interest, psychotherapy doesn't appeal to me at the moment, and I prefer a more active work environment where I take care of the body with a larger team.

Self-care to me is the maintenance of my mental health through hobbies and experiences. My first method of reflection is video journals. By talking to myself, I can verbalize and articulate my thoughts, simulate talking to a friend over the phone, and document the moments. There’s no judgment or rush from another perspective, just me and my words. Another method is to learn about other’s mental health and self care habits. It widens my perspective on perspective itself and shows me that everyone is on their own journey of care. I can build empathy, become someone’s friend, and have the honor of trust. Some things I do on a daily is listen to music and skincare. For music, I enjoy R&B and Lofi as its groovy and chill vibes help to calm me down while I’m studying, cooking, cleaning, etc. It also encourages me to sing, a passion I’ve had since I was born. But at night, I like to turn things off and stick to silence. This is when I do my skincare pampering. Putting effort into my physical appearance and making sure I’m clean and hydrated makes me feel secure and safe. These are just a few things I do to retain my sanity and ground myself. As a result, I’ve become more comfortable with silence as I’ve become my own best friend who is caring and patient with oneself.

Diligence: the devotion to work and accomplishments. Towards the end of summer, I had nothing else to do. With no program to attend or friends to hang out with at the time, I was left bored. I knew spending time scrolling through my phone would be a waste, as this task was mindless and addicting. Then, I heard a ding from my phone. It wasn’t a text message, but rather, an email titled, Beachmont School Community Service Opportunity. Logically, I didn’t have to take up this opportunity as I had completed the required amount of community service hours and was not interested in becoming a teacher. So, why did I still donate my time and effort? Since my drive in life is to help people and explore, doing this would alleviate boredom, assist a few teachers, and get a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes process. So for 3 hours, I completed tedious tasks such as cleaning the whiteboards, taping papers into notebooks, and paperclipping packets. This experience exposed to me how involved teachers are at their work; that it’s not only the 50 minute classroom setting where they give it their all, but also the periods of manual and thoughtful preparation throughout the entire day. They arrive earlier than us students and leave later than us students. And when they go home, they are still organizing, grading work, and preparing for the next day. A few hours of diligent work from me does not compare to a teacher’s daily diligence, discipline, and determination. I’m glad I gave back and placed myself in the shoes of those who raised me educationally. I now continue to participate in community service activities, such as the Teen Health Advisory at the Cambridge Health Alliance, where I can educate others.

I am interested in becoming a nurse practitioner with a specialty in psychiatry. Courses I have taken include Intro To Biotechnology, Intro to Psychology/Sociology, HN Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, and DE Intro to Psychology. I am currently taking AP Biology and will either take DE Healthcare Studies or Sociology shortly. I have participated in the Biotechnology club (former co-leader), HPREP by Harvard Medical School, CHA Teen Health Advisory program, and the RHS PRE Health Club (current student liaison). I have interned in the CHA Sexual & Reproductive health program as a Student Ambassador and will partake in a healthcare-related internship this spring. I take care of my family by listening and helping them, such as raising my brother, consoling my mother, and caring for my father. I enjoy studying psychology in my free time through videos, observations, and interactions with others. From elementary to middle school, my mom suggested that I become a pharmacist for the bountiful salary. I agreed, finding interest in the way a drug can alter a person's mind and behavior. So I had a knack for psychology at a young age before I even knew what it was. The drive to pursue this career came from experiencing depression and anxiety from the 8th to the 11th grade. It was a lonely, pessimistic, and tiring era. I have grown since then, no longer feeling mentally and physically exhausted nor anxious around everyone, even friends. If it weren't for the care of my therapist, knowledge from workshops and videos, and the self-awareness I had of my previous mental state, I would not be as strong and resilient as I am today. Thus, I want to continue learning and growing to become the person I needed the most back then. A professional that listens, understands, provides a warm presence, and takes action to ensure the wellbeing of others. Although psychology is my subject interest, psychotherapy doesn't appeal to me at the moment, and I prefer a more active work environment where I take care of the body with a larger team.

Watching YouTube! I admire YouTuber Mai Pham for her maturity, independence, and financial security. She is confident in doing anything alone, such as cooking, traveling, and working. She demonstrates ownership and awareness for her mental state by opening up, being mindful, seeking professional therapy, and persevering through responsibilities. Finally, she exhibits gratitude for her viewers (such as me!) for providing the presence and income that has kept her alive to this day. By the way, she recently came out with a collaborated jewelry line, and it is so chic! I bought the Chinese dragon zodiac earrings as they remind me of my culture and the ferocity of my mother. Anyways, although I can not relate to her travels, extroversion, or finances, she has inspired me to speak up more, video journal, and travel with friends one day. I have gone from feeling insecure about others successes to empathizing with her happiness and hoping the best for me as well.

Compassion: the urge to help after sympathizing. Whenever my father recalls and recounts stories of his experience during the Khmer Rouge to me, my heart aches for the boy who was so young that had to endure those times. It also makes me wonder how much of the man he is today has grown. While these conversations are painful, they help strengthen our relationship as we build trust. Those memories are painful, so it makes sense to suppress or forget, but I bring them up for him to be heard or properly let go. It also helps me understand parts of his manner, personality, and behaviors. After listening, I allow the silence, give advice, reassure him, ask more questions, or redirect him to different resources. I know listening and showing genuine interest is already helping him, so anything else I can do that helps him feel understood, appreciated, and taken care of is amazing.

Min Yoongi said, “Giving something up decisively takes lots of courage.” This quote is a great refresher to hustle culture and an encouragement to plunge into the unknown. I resonate with this quote because of my journey in math: After years of unhappiness from the overwhelming curriculum and competition, trying to follow the AP track, and please the gifted child mindset I held onto from 6th grade, I let go of my ego. I decided to take Intro To Stats instead of AP stats for my final year. At first, it felt like I had stopped challenging myself and downgraded. But in actuality, I have freed myself from my restricting plans and ideology of efficiency. With the relief and free time I've gained from choosing the Intro To Stats class, and the reassurance and support I have from Min's words, I can focus more on what is important to me.