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Isabelle Balubar

2x

Finalist

1x

Winner

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Anatomy
  • Badminton
  • Biology
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Genetics
  • Music
  • Viola
  • STEM
  • Neuroscience
  • Physiology
  • Mathematics
  • Singing
  • Choir
  • Research
  • Concerts
  • Comedy

Reading

  • Academic
  • Adult Fiction
  • Art
  • Classics
  • Health
  • Young Adult

I read books daily.

Bio

Life’s challenges often feel like intricate equations—complex, layered, and waiting to be solved. I’m drawn to these challenges, whether they appear in mathematical structures or in the behaviors and motivations that shape human experience. While still in high school, I am completing Associate degrees in Psychology and Mathematics, a path that reflects my belief that understanding people is as important as understanding the systems around them. Studying topics like cognitive processes, statistics, and advanced math has taught me to think with both precision and empathy. I’ve learned to approach problems by looking at patterns, questioning assumptions, and considering not just the answer, but the reasoning behind it. My goal is to use this blend of analytical and psychological insight to contribute to research that truly improves lives—whether through modeling human decision-making, exploring mental health data, or studying how people learn and adapt. I bring meticulous attention, creativity, and a genuine curiosity for complex ideas. I would be honored to bring this perspective at school and in my personal life, using scholarship funds to support this goal. I’m eager to take on challenging projects, grow as a researcher and doctor, and contribute meaningfully to work that expands what we understand about people, systems, and the possibilities that connect them.

Education

University of California-Berkeley

Bachelor's degree program

2026 – 2030

Majors:
  • Neurobiology and Neurosciences

Clovis Community College

Associate's degree program

2023 – 2025

Majors:
  • Psychology, General

Clovis Community College

Associate's degree program

2023 – 2025

Majors:
  • Mathematics

Floyd B Buchanan High School

High School

2022 – 2026

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Graduate schools of interest:
University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Los Angeles, Harvard College, Johns Hopkins University, Duke University, Princeton University
Majors of interest:
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other, Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Mathematics, Biopsychology, Psychology, General, Medicine
Medical school interest:
Yes

Career

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Medicine
Dream career goals:
Create medical change in the field.
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
  • Entrepreneurship
Alexander de Guia Memorial Scholarship
Winner
I don’t remember the first time I tried pancit or halo-halo. Or the first time I danced to Sinulog songs—probably tripping over my dress half the time and pretending I meant to. I don’t remember when I started preferring the stories of elderly lolos and lolas over playground games or being surrounded by uncles and aunties belting “My Way” on a karaoke machine so loudly that the neighbors probably thought Sinatra had moved in. But I do remember how it all made me feel: seen, connected, and rooted in something bigger than myself. Over time, I’ve come to realize that my greatest skill is creating a sense of belonging through celebrating my culture and embracing the diverse experiences of others. Through this exchange, I build spaces where everyone feels seen and valued. In Orlando, I was surrounded by a vibrant Filipino community. The smell of adobo in the kitchen, the sound of Tagalog and Cebuano bouncing off each other, the karaoke ballads—it was all part of me. I didn’t have to seek out community; it existed all around me. Then the pandemic hit, and my family moved to Fresno. Suddenly, the gatherings were gone. The familiar voices faded. At my new school, hardly anyone looked like me. I stopped bringing Filipino food for lunch – too many stares, too many questions. For the first time, I felt invisible. I missed feeling known. I carried my culture quietly, folding it into myself, afraid it might set me apart in ways I didn’t yet know how to explain. Eventually, I decided to rebuild. I volunteered at a Filipino-run food distribution site, where I connected with elders who reminded me of home. I joined a Filipino church choir as a violist, as I missed being surrounded by language, music and a community that felt familiar. Most significantly, I became president of my school’s Filipino Club. When I joined, it was a quiet, almost forgotten group. But I saw potential. Our small group turned into a cultural hub—we hosted potlucks, sang around campus on Valentine’s Day, played Filipino games during lunch, and taught classmates how to say “kumusta ka?” We didn’t just celebrate our culture; we created community. We even planned and participated in our school’s first cultural fashion show. Students wore their barongs and Filipiniana costumes and other students from other backgrounds participated as well. For many, it was the first time they had celebrated their identities at school. What I’ve learned is that cultural identity isn’t fixed to a place. It’s something we can carry, shape, and share. My skill lies in my empathy, initiative, and ability to create bridges for others to feel at home. With this scholarship, I hope to foster these bridges, through culture, conversation, and shared stories, especially when I go to medical school. My classmates will see how identity can be personal and collective, both fluid and grounding. I may not remember every detail of my childhood. But I remember the warmth of belonging—and now, I’ve learned how to offer that to others.
Hue Ta Asian American Scholarship
Bringing Silence to Light: Mental Health and Disability Advocacy in the Asian American Community I didn’t grow up hearing the words “mental health.” Not in Tagalog. Not in English. In my family, emotions were tucked neatly under politeness. Pain was something you outlasted, not something you named. But silence, I’ve learned, is not the same as healing. And breaking that silence—especially in the Asian American community—is where advocacy begins. Mental health and disability advocacy are especially vital in our community because silence often masquerades as strength. The model minority myth tells us to succeed quietly, to endure without complaint. But this myth has a cost. It teaches us to dismiss mental illness as weakness, to downplay disability as failure, and to bear burdens alone. For too many Asian Americans, seeking help still feels like betrayal—of family, of culture, of expectation. I’ve felt that tension firsthand. As a Filipino American, I grew up with stories of sacrifice—of my parents’ immigration, my grandparents’ hard-won survival. Their resilience shaped me, but so did the pressure to uphold it. When I began struggling with anxiety, I didn’t know how to explain it. I only knew how to hide it. That’s why I am so passionate about mental health—not just as a personal journey, but as a collective responsibility. No one should feel ashamed of their pain. No one should feel invisible in their need. Through my volunteer work as a researcher at the VA, I’ve seen how unaddressed mental health and disability issues affect real lives. Veterans—many of whom are people of color—navigate PTSD, depression, physical disabilities, and systemic barriers to care. Working with them has deepened my understanding of how culture, trauma, and access intersect. It has also affirmed my belief: research isn’t just about data. It’s about dignity. It’s about creating systems that see the whole person—not just their symptoms. This scholarship would help me continue that work. Personally, it would give me the means to pursue a path that my family once only dreamed of: higher education grounded in purpose. Academically, it would support my goal of integrating neuroscience with culturally competent care—studying how the brain processes trauma while never losing sight of the lived experiences behind the science. Advocacy-wise, it would amplify my voice, allowing me to push for mental health equity in spaces that have historically left our communities out. I want to create spaces where young Asian Americans don’t have to choose between being understood and being successful. Where mental health is honored, not hidden. Where disabilities aren’t pitied, but supported. Where care is not a privilege, but a right. We carry so much—our histories, our hopes, our hurts. But we don’t have to carry them alone. I want to be part of a movement that makes sure of that. Because healing isn’t just about treatment. It’s about community. It’s about visibility. It’s about rewriting silence into something powerful—something shared. And with this scholarship, I hope to do exactly that.
Isabelle Balubar Student Profile | Bold.org