The power and influence of the digital world in our everyday lives, the worsening of global climates due to climate change, and the opportunities to improve these realities are all constantly growing. I want to come up with innovative solutions to build a more sustainable future, expand humanity’s reach and knowledge of space, and ultimately empower humanity to create a more sustainable future. Technology has rapidly expanded over the past 200 years, and it’s not stopping any time soon. The introduction and rapid growth of the digital age has benefited those who could afford to keep up with it, but the harsh reality is that there are millions if not billions of people across the world who are left behind. Especially in the last 30 years, owning a computer and being able to access the internet has grown to become a defining factor of how connected people are with the rest of the world and the opportunities that they have access to. Tools such as Starlink empower these communities to have internet access, ultimately allowing them to keep up with and contribute to the digital world. As a first-generation American with family living across the world, I understand the importance of having access to these digital technologies, and I want to contribute to developing new innovative technologies such as Starlink to digitally empower people across the world. Global warming and climate change are only getting worse, and there is no way to stop it unless quick action is taken to change how we live and consume energy, digital appliances, and much more. This is a huge issue to tackle, but I want to focus on coming up with innovative solutions for clean energy and alternatives to mining rare earth metals such as lithium for devices that are supporting the expansion of the digital age. Installing solar and wind energy in vast open spaces in the United States across the midwest would generate enough energy to theoretically provide for the entire United States energy consumption. However, this is not possible due to geographic constraints and distances. I want to come up with more urban-friendly approaches to clean energy, keeping the goal of sustainability in mind through green computing projects. Developing sustainable coding techniques, optimizing algorithms for energy efficiency, and reducing the carbon footprint of digital infrastructure are all goals I will aim to achieve throughout my career. From a very young age, I have been interested in satellites and space technologies. After starting my undergraduate degree in computer science at UCLA and working on these technologies through clubs such as Rocket Project, my interest has only grown. I have a lot of passion for innovative design with the broad goals of sustainability, benefit for humanity in the growing digital age, and space technologies. My goal, above all, is to work on innovative projects that benefit the world, while also focusing on my personal lifting goals in the gym, my creative pursuits through drawings and clay sculpting, and helping my community of family and friends to build each other up.

The hub was suddenly disconnected. A collective gasp filled the room as panic set in. "Stay calm. Power will be back soon," Tim tried to reassure us, but we knew we couldn't last without the hub. Not even for an hour. How would we get around town, stay safe, or even think for ourselves without it? For most of us, life without the hub was a mystery. There were a few survivors from Generation Alpha, the last generation before the hubs took over, but their stories were fading away. We'd embraced artificial intelligence for everything – from tracking our heart rates before birth to predicting what we wanted before we knew it. In the dim light, uncertainty hung thick. The hub wasn't just a convenience; it was our lifeline. It had become the heart of our existence. Tim, our voice of reason, tried to take charge. "Let's assess the situation. Maybe it's just a temporary glitch, and the power will be back soon." We nodded, but anxiety lingered. None of us knew how to function without the guiding hand of the hub. Minutes stretched into what felt like hours. Our dependence on technology stared us in the face. No maps to navigate, no instant messaging, not even basic information without the aid of AI-enhanced memory. Panic set in. We were living in a world we didn't know how to navigate. Tim decided we needed help. "There must be someone who can fix this," he said, leading us out. The streets, once alive with automated vehicles and holographic displays, were now quiet. The absence of the usual hum and glow left an unsettling void. We stumbled upon a group of Generation Alpha survivors. They were huddled together, sharing stories of a time when life wasn't run by algorithms and AI. They had lived in a world where people made decisions based on intuition. Margaret, an elderly woman from the group, spoke up. "We knew a life before the hubs, a life where we had to rely on our own judgment. It was challenging, but it was liberating. Don't let technology enslave you." Her words hit home. Maybe this disconnection was a chance, an opportunity to rediscover our humanity. We formed a community with the Generation Alpha survivors, pooling our knowledge to adapt to this new reality. Without the hub, we learned to use physical maps, communicate face-to-face, and make decisions based on collective wisdom. It was tough, but as days turned into weeks, we found resilience and self-reliance. It got to the point where we began to doubt the need for the hub to guide us in the first place. When the hub was eventually restored, our perspective had changed. We realized technology should enhance, not control, our lives. The hub, once an absolute necessity, became a cautionary tale. The challenges of disconnection became opportunities for growth, shaping a future where humans and technology coexisted, each complementing the strengths of the other. In the end, the restored hub taught us balance, a future where humans and technology coexisted harmoniously.

"The Feynman Method." I answered. My friend had just seen my report card and she asked me how I get such high grades. The answer was simple. I use a combination of different study techniques including the Feynman method in order to achieve academic success. The Feynman method involves learning a topic, then attempting to teach the topic at a level at which a five year old can understand it in order to fill gaps in knowledge. I have used this method since middle school, I would reteach topics learned in class to friends and family members later that same day. Using this method, I was able to achieve a 4.8 weighted GPA. Another method I use is mapping out information. Before a unit test or final exam, I write out a map of what I can recall from the information that will be on the exam. After creating this "map", I check the exam syllabus and fill in any gaps in information from my initial map. By doing this, I am able to recall and refine what I have learned. This method works great for subjects such as history and psychology since they involve memorization of many proper nouns and definitions. For subjects such as math and chemistry, I study by doing as many practice problems as I can, then going back and seeing what caused my mistakes. I also tutor these subjects to my friends and classmates when they have questions, which helps me to refine my own knowledge of that same subject. Using these methods, most notably the Feynman method, I am able to maintain high GPA.

The power and relevance of mathematics draws me to learn more. Math is the base behind physics, chemistry, biology, psychology, and nearly every other field in the sciences. Even in music theory, mathematics has applications. The relevance of mathematics in this world is what draws me and inspires me to keep discovering more and to stay curious. I used to be the typical algebra student in middle school, I merely did the practice problems and I would wonder if I would ever use this math in the real world. One day, I stumbled upon Zach Star's YouTube Channel among others including 3blue1brown. These YouTubers have created many videos describing the relevance of math in the real world. Topics such as the golden ratio, Fibonacci sequence, and Euler's number had me so intrigued. From that point on, I started to become more interested and motivated than ever to continue learning mathematics. I went on to study calculus and I realized that everything moving around us has a changing slope, a derivative. This is another aspect of the world in which math can explain. I started joining math clubs and even created my own math club at my high school. I wanted to gather with others who shared this same interest and put our brains together to discuss such intriguing math concepts. My understanding of the world has changed forever since I started to look at math beyond just practicing sums and following a method to solve problems. Math is the foundation of this world. Math is what keeps the Earth spinning, it is our night and day - quite literally - it is our every move. Even probability is seen everywhere in this world. From the chances of seeing your childhood friend in public to the chances of getting accepted to university, probability defines every chance of every possibility that may occur in this world. The golden ratio is seen in art, music, facial structure, and its all over the place in nature. The golden ratio is used to make songs that sound attractive to the ear, art that catches the eye, snail shells that naturally occur in that pattern, and much more. Math is pertinently seen in every corner, nook, and cranny in this world. Math is what defines this world. That is what drives me to keep discovering and keeps me curious.

Unfortunately, despite growing global societies, poverty, hunger, and homelessness are still pressing global issues. Approximately four out of five people on Earth currently survive off of less than $10 a day. People can only become the best version of themselves and achieve their dreams once their basic human needs are taken care of. Basic human needs include access to clean water, food, and an enclosed home. I believe that it is so vital to donate to charities that will help everyone on this planet get the opportunity to reach for the sky and follow their dreams. Donating to charities that will help out those in need of financial help is a method of solving the issue of poverty. Money that is donated to charities will go towards financing the basic human needs of people who are struggling in poverty. Ensuring that everyone on this planet has what they need in order to become the best version of themselves is an important step to take as a global society.

If I was to become a highly influential figure, I would make my mission statement about ensuring that every human on this planet has access to what they need in order to become the best version of themselves. Unfortunately, despite growing global societies, poverty, hunger, and homelessness are still pressing global issues. Approximately four out of five people on Earth currently survive off of less than $10 a day. People can only become the best version of themselves and achieve their dreams once their basic human needs are taken care of. This is why it is so vital to donate to charities that will help everyone on this planet get the opportunity to reach for the sky and follow their dreams.