In the future, I am open to pursuing various career paths such as medicine, computer engineering, and architecture due to my diverse range of interests. I am passionate about biology, art, coding, artificial intelligence, psychology, music, and more. Having different interests allows me to think from various perspectives when solving a problem, enabling me to bring unique and creative insights to the table.
Growing up with parents working in neuroscience, I was exposed to various research institutes worldwide from a young age. My love for science developed from my childhood in Europe in different countries including Germany and France, where my parents pursued research, to my upbringing at the Indian Institute of Science in India, where I frequently visited the departments and met different scientists from various domains. This experience ignited my curiosity and passion for artificial intelligence. At 9, I had my first encounter with an actual human brain, which sparked my love for biology.
I always had a strong interest in computers and a knack for coding. I started learning HTML at the age of 10, and by the time I was 12, I had developed a strong passion for Java and C++. In recent years, I had to choose between focusing on biology or computer science as my major subject. Though I chose biology, I continued to study coding as well. I also helped my peers who took computer science as their major, and I was proud and happy that they excelled in their studies with my support.
Even though I have had no formal training in psychology, it is a subject that greatly intrigues me. I enjoy reading books about it and learning about the human mind. I also love watching thrillers, as psychology is fascinating. It has also helped me to understand people better. During my school years, I started reading psychology to help my friends deal with their anxiety and eating disorders, which led to a strong interest in the subject. In a way, psychology has helped me become a better person, a better listener, and a better friend.
Art has always been one of my strongest passions in life. Throughout the years, I have received awards for art along with achieving general proficiency in academics. Along with art, and being part of a musical family, instrumental music has added color to my life.
My journey here has not been without its obstacles. Academic pressures, competition, and cultural expectations can create a stressful environment. Even though my parents never pressured me, I always strived to be somewhere at the top, which was difficult, especially during the online classes of COVID-19. During my 8th and 9th grades, my position in academics greatly declined from first to one of the last. Many of my classmates had cheated in almost every exam, which was unfair because I studied and worked hard, yet I ended up in one of the lowest positions. This took a toll on me mentally, and I felt like giving up. Fortunately, my parents taught me to always be honest and to always do my best. In the 10th grade, offline classes made a comeback and with it, my performance improved. I managed to come back on top and graduated with a general proficiency in academics.
Currently, being a new student in my senior year at an American high school is quite challenging since I have never been part of the American culture before. Though my early childhood was in Europe, the majority of my upbringing has been in India. But being in USA, which provides a venue for integration of different cultures, also promises me a future of big dreams and hope. Therefore, I am committed to working hard to achieve them with the support of my family.
In navigating through this journey, I have developed resilience, patience, perseverance, and empathy as my core values. Resilience has taught me to bounce back from setbacks stronger than before, whereas perseverance has inspired me to stay determined and forge ahead despite the odds. Patience has taught me that success takes time, and empathy was born from shared struggles in my community, which eventually helped me form my friend circle. These values have given me the courage and held me strong to stand up in the face of injustice despite challenges.
As for me, I had previously considered asking for help as a sign of weakness. However, it is through humility and seeking guidance from my parents, teachers, and peers that I have gained irreplaceable support and insights. Receiving help has not only helped my academic growth but also strengthened my relationship with my parents and peers.
In conclusion, my educational dreams are an intersection of cultural values, personal aspirations, and support. It is a journey characterized by the pursuit of excellence, resilience forged through adversity, and use of education to aid my personal and social growth. As I continue to navigate this path, I truly believe that even though I often discover new passions, my broad range of interests allow me to adapt and learn important skills in today's rapidly evolving world. I was taught that I should always do my best, so I firmly believe in always giving my best effort, and I am certain that I will excel in any field I pursue.