One of the most memorable times I delighted others with my tinkering skills was during a class I teach at Code Ninjas, where I introduced kids to artificial intelligence through their favorite games. Instead of explaining AI as something abstract, I wanted them to experience it in a way that felt like play. That’s how the “Pose Ninja” project came to be. Using pose-detection AI, I programmed the computer to recognize when a student struck a certain stance: arms up in victory, crouching like a ninja, or balancing like a superhero. Students gave me ideas the week before so I was able to customize the poses. Suddenly, the kids themselves were the data. Instead of pressing buttons, or learning through textbooks and videos, they became the data we learned about. One moment in particular has stayed with me. A boy who had been quiet all afternoon finally stepped up to try. What I didn't know is that he had been telling his parents at home he was incredibly excited to try. He raised his arms in a dramatic “victory” pose, and the AI instantly recognized it, triggering a bright animation on the screen. He couldn’t believe the computer had really understood him. Then his face broke into the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. In that instant, I truly realized that I am making memories these children will carry for life. The happiness in that room was contagious. That student, who had been hesitant before, suddenly wanted to test every move he could think of. Soon he was leading the others, suggesting poses the AI might recognize and coming up with new challenges for the group. What started as a single victory pose turned into a wave of creativity, confidence, and collaboration. That day taught me something- tinkering is about more than what you can create for yourself, it's about what you can create that changes the world in a positive way. Every time I teach, I have to remember that it's more than a paycheck or a few hours. To these kids, what I do will shape them forever. I remember the time I was a shy kid interesting in hacking, tinkering, engineering, and computers. I wish I had a space that I was comfortable enough in when I was younger to create and innovate on projects I had. However, I'm moreso just glad that I get to be the safe space for children in a way that I never had.

Welcome to my Animal Crossing island, Mahoteki. My Mom got me this game when I was just 6 years old. It’s perfect for 10 villagers, two little stores, and an airport to get away from it all. While it's not a conventional source of solace, Animal Crossing has allowed me to cultivate a greater sense of personal identity. Let me show you around my island! This is my house, decorated exactly as the one I’d envisioned in my youth. Since my island estate is a recreation of my 9 or 10 year old fantasy, my pixelated bedroom is somewhat reminiscent of the TV room from Fahrenheit 451, something I thought was a display of wealth and ‘swag.’ When I showed my virtual bedroom to my Mom, she gave a soft smile and said to dream a little smaller. Though I frowned at her dismissive remark, I know that her solemn tone is not pessimism: it’s difficult to imagine a working fridge and more than two rooms when you’re an immigrant. Still, I vowed that one day, on an island that exists beyond a screen, I’d show her two houses AND all her favorite chocolate stocked in a fridge that actually works. She smiled. I hope she’s as proud of me as I am of her. This is the clothing store, the Able Sisters, where I can design any piece of clothing that I imagine. On your visit to the store, you’ll encounter Sable, the lead designer, who will explain how her love of art helped her overcome growing up as an orphan and having to take care of her two younger sisters on her own. Like Sable, my art–code and design–is inspired by the experiences of my upbringing. Both within my island and amongst society, my designs are the physical manifestations of ambition to continue moving forward. Eager to contribute my artistic vision to egalitarian social efforts, the identity I’ve developed upon my virtual island has inspired my service across numerous organizations at my high school. This is Nook’s Cranny, a general store. It sells anything one might need on the island. Timmy and Tommy, the twin brothers who run the store, show nothing but unconditional love to each other as orphans taken in by an adoptive father. Inspired by their familial bond, I am motivated to extend unconditional love to my two younger cousins, who, despite living thousands of miles away, are like siblings. Our relationship is mutualistically nurturing: They push me to be a better person, while I guide them with the experiences of my youth: encouraging them to be a little more reckless and to find themselves through self-love and self-exploration. And finally, the airport: The place I could get away from it all, the place that helps me remember why I started playing Animal Crossing. Game director Katsuya Eguchi made the original game to depict feeling like an outsider when moving to a new city. Raised by immigrant parents I resonate with his message, as I’ve never fully identified with American culture, leading me to feel lonely in the country I was born in. Yet, getting home every day after school and booting up my favorite console to confide in Timmy, Tommy, and Sable made me realize that “bad times… are just times that are bad.” My mom changed my life by giving me a game that allowed me to express myself in a world where I thought I couldn’t. By exploring my aspirations through limitless self-expression, I proudly flaunt my culture and identity, knowing that my identity and my struggles are nothing to hide.

Welcome to my Animal Crossing island, Mahoteki. My Mom got me this game when I was just 6 years old. It’s perfect for 10 villagers, two little stores, and an airport to get away from it all. While it's not a conventional source of solace, Animal Crossing has allowed me to cultivate a greater sense of personal identity. Let me show you around my island! This is my house, decorated exactly as the one I’d envisioned in my youth. Since my island estate is a recreation of my 9 or 10 year old fantasy, my pixelated bedroom is somewhat reminiscent of the TV room from Fahrenheit 451, something I thought was a display of wealth and ‘swag.’ When I showed my virtual bedroom to my Mom, she gave a soft smile and said to dream a little smaller. Though I frowned at her dismissive remark, I know that her solemn tone is not pessimism: it’s difficult to imagine a working fridge and more than two rooms when you’re an immigrant. Still, I vowed that one day, on an island that exists beyond a screen, I’d show her two houses AND all her favorite chocolate stocked in a fridge that actually works. She smiled. I hope she’s as proud of me as I am of her. This is the clothing store, the Able Sisters, where I can design any piece of clothing that I imagine. On your visit to the store, you’ll encounter Sable, the lead designer, who will explain how her love of art helped her overcome growing up as an orphan and having to take care of her two younger sisters on her own. Like Sable, my art–code and design–is inspired by the experiences of my upbringing. Both within my island and amongst society, my designs are the physical manifestations of ambition to continue moving forward. Eager to contribute my artistic vision to egalitarian social efforts, the identity I’ve developed upon my virtual island has inspired my service across numerous organizations at my high school. This is Nook’s Cranny, a general store. It sells anything one might need on the island. Timmy and Tommy, the twin brothers who run the store, show nothing but unconditional love to each other as orphans taken in by an adoptive father. Inspired by their familial bond, I am motivated to extend unconditional love to my two younger cousins, who, despite living thousands of miles away, are like siblings. Our relationship is mutualistically nurturing: They push me to be a better person, while I guide them with the experiences of my youth: encouraging them to be a little more reckless and to find themselves through self-love and self-exploration. And finally, the airport: The place I could get away from it all, the place that helps me remember why I started playing Animal Crossing. Game director Katsuya Eguchi made the original game to depict feeling like an outsider when moving to a new city. Raised by immigrant parents I resonate with his message, as I’ve never fully identified with American culture, leading me to feel lonely in the country I was born in. Yet, getting home every day after school and booting up my favorite console to confide in Timmy, Tommy, and Sable made me realize that “bad times… are just times that are bad.” My mom changed my life by giving me a game that allowed me to express myself in a world where I thought I couldn’t. By exploring my aspirations through limitless self-expression, I proudly flaunt my culture and identity, knowing that my identity and my struggles are nothing to hide.

Welcome to my Animal Crossing island, Mahoteki. My Mom got me this game when I was just 6 years old. It’s perfect for 10 villagers, two little stores, and an airport to get away from it all. While it's not a conventional source of solace, Animal Crossing has allowed me to cultivate a greater sense of personal identity. Let me show you around my island! This is my house, decorated exactly as the one I’d envisioned in my youth. Since my island estate is a recreation of my 9 or 10 year old fantasy, my pixelated bedroom is somewhat reminiscent of the TV room from Fahrenheit 451, something I thought was a display of wealth and ‘swag.’ When I showed my virtual bedroom to my Mom, she gave a soft smile and said to dream a little smaller. Though I frowned at her dismissive remark, I know that her solemn tone is not pessimism: it’s difficult to imagine a working fridge and more than two rooms when you’re an immigrant. Still, I vowed that one day, on an island that exists beyond a screen, I’d show her two houses AND all her favorite chocolate stocked in a fridge that actually works. She smiled. I hope she’s as proud of me as I am of her. This is the clothing store, the Able Sisters, where I can design any piece of clothing that I imagine. On your visit to the store, you’ll encounter Sable, the lead designer, who will explain how her love of art helped her overcome growing up as an orphan and having to take care of her two younger sisters on her own. Like Sable, my art–code and design–is inspired by the experiences of my upbringing. Both within my island and amongst society, my designs are the physical manifestations of ambition to continue moving forward. Eager to contribute my artistic vision to egalitarian social efforts, the identity I’ve developed upon my virtual island has inspired my service across numerous organizations at my high school. This is Nook’s Cranny, a general store. It sells anything one might need on the island. Timmy and Tommy, the twin brothers who run the store, show nothing but unconditional love to each other as orphans taken in by an adoptive father. Inspired by their familial bond, I am motivated to extend unconditional love to my two younger cousins, who, despite living thousands of miles away, are like siblings. Our relationship is mutualistically nurturing: They push me to be a better person, while I guide them with the experiences of my youth: encouraging them to be a little more reckless and to find themselves through self-love and self-exploration. And finally, the airport: The place I could get away from it all, the place that helps me remember why I started playing Animal Crossing. Game director Katsuya Eguchi made the original game to depict feeling like an outsider when moving to a new city. Raised by immigrant parents I resonate with his message, as I’ve never fully identified with American culture, leading me to feel lonely in the country I was born in. Yet, getting home every day after school and booting up my favorite console to confide in Timmy, Tommy, and Sable made me realize that “bad times… are just times that are bad.” My mom changed my life by giving me a game that allowed me to express myself in a world where I thought I couldn’t. By exploring my aspirations through limitless self-expression, I proudly flaunt my culture and identity, knowing that my identity and my struggles are nothing to hide.

I have always loved a challenge, and that’s evident in my love for public speaking. English is not my first language, and thus I was always nervous to speak freshman year. I had a heavy accent. Many of the kids would point it out and laugh or call me the foreign girl. Was it possible for me to learn to love speaking? I laughed when even asking the question. I was not going to challenge myself. I came to terms with myself and decided being mute was my destiny. I’d eventually heard an advertisement to join the Speech and Debate club. I was curious. I told myself I would just try it out and I attended the next meeting. That was the moment I’d changed my life for the better. I wrote, I memorized, and I truly was passionate about becoming better. I practiced time and time again after school. I studied English in workbooks and on Youtube. I memorized dialogues and even wrote my own. I was a shy kid freshman year, but now I can help others become what I am today as the captain of the team. I became an active figure because of my experience, allowing myself to become a judge and criticize others and help them become better as well. I can help others see that a challenge comes with great results. My love for speech and writing speeches has coincided with my love for technology. I have always written about my love for the fields in STEM. It has been so heartwarming to find something I am truly passionate about. I learned that I love to speak, but even more, I love to have my message resonate with others. Now, in the future, I hope to become a woman in STEM and help others like me who feel out of the ordinary become an influential figure. With this scholarship, I could continue to challenge myself while developing the skills necessary for leadership and love for the community. I would find people similar to myself that are academically driven and hard workers. I must continue to challenge myself while finding a group of people that are similar in work ethic, but completely different in cultural backgrounds and upbringings. I pride myself in wanting to continue to learn more about the world and my community. This scholarship would help me become an example in technology that helped me as a young girl.

I have always loved a challenge, and that’s evident in my love for public speaking. English is not my first language, and thus I was always nervous to speak freshman year. I had a heavy accent. Many of the kids would point it out and laugh or call me the foreign girl. Was it possible for me to learn to love speaking? I laughed when even asking the question. I was not going to challenge myself. I came to terms with myself and decided being mute was my destiny. I’d eventually heard an advertisement to join the Speech and Debate club. I was curious. I told myself I would just try it out and I attended the next meeting. That was the moment I’d changed my life for the better. I wrote, I memorized, and I truly was passionate about becoming better. I was a shy kid freshman year, but now I can help others become what I am today as the captain of the team. I became an active figure because of my experience, allowing myself to become a judge and criticize others and help them become better as well. I can help others see that a challenge comes with great results. My love for speech and writing speeches has coincided with my love for technology. I have always written about my love for the fields in STEM. It has been so heartwarming to find something I am truly passionate about. I learned that I love to speak, but even more, I love to have my message resonate with others. Now, in the future, I hope to become a woman in STEM and help others like me who feel out of the ordinary become an influential figure. With a degree, I could continue to challenge myself while developing the skills necessary for leadership and love for community. I would find people similar to myself that are academically driven and hard workers. It is important that I continue to challenge myself while finding a group of people that are similar in work ethic, but completely different in cultural backgrounds and upbringings. I pride myself in wanting to continue to learn more about the world and my community. A degree would help me become an example in technology that helped me as a young girl. I would be the first person in my family to be able to go to college and set an example for the generations that will come after me. I want to show my family and the world that culture is important and not something to hide when coming to America.