After completing the leadership training from RYLA Hawaii, I developed two values in leadership -I valued personal courage and limitless service to the community. Management was difficult with academics when I turned STEM club president. It was a burden to have to be part of the team. Although, my values shifted my discouragement to inspiration. I have the drive and commitment to serve the community. We hosted monthly challenges for club members concentrating on critical thinking and collaboration. After rigorous preparation and meetings, our efforts led to a successful fundraising event that landed us a STEM conference in Oahu. My values became the pen that charted my adventures. This motivated me to look up to more heights. I strived to add value to my community. I seized new opportunities and joined service clubs such as Bluezones and Key Club. I participated in the Adopt-A-Highway cleanup. Debris composed of plastic and paper was collected on the curbside of the school. Last summer, I was presented with an opportunity to join the Summer Academy from Upward Bound. Though, my fear of social anxiety discouraged me to decline. My parents provided me with solace and encouraged me to express myself and who I am, reminded of my values. I leaped. The first day was indelible, and thrilling at first. I met new members and bonded with their diverse stories and culture. By the end of summer, I found myself in a community where I could sing, dance or cry with. My experience in the Summer Academy unveiled the importance of having a community. I joined service clubs such as Bluezones and Key-Club. I assisted with visitors and prepared classrooms during the KKPCA Summit. I pursued the STEAM CapStone in developing the re-envisioned school website that brought value to teachers and students. Despite my project difficulties, I persevered. After obtaining my degree in Computer Science (C.S.) and a Data Science degree certificate from UH Hilo. I plan to continue my academic journey through a Master's degree program. The courses in Python for Data Analysis and Artificial Intelligence allowed me to advance further into Data Science. With their data visualization laboratory, I will pursue machine learning projects. A project idea is integrating artificial intelligence with interior design through the lab’s AR platform. Perhaps styling rooms and dorms will be easier than moving the furniture. Another project utilized the laboratory's CyberCANOE. One idea is to monitor reef colonies in a geometric display and collaborate with marine biologists for future decisions in maintaining the marine ecosystem. I will further participate in online educational platforms (Brilliant and Coursera). These platforms expand my learning in achieving certificates that validate my professional development. I will have the qualifications necessary to land in paid internships or emerging start-ups that have a contribution to the community. Next, I would establish media platforms such as blogging and podcasting that offer educational resources and career insights to students pursuing STEAM majors. I will interview emerging entrepreneurs that inspire listeners and readers to contribute to their communities with their passions. I want them to have their community to support and connect. A college degree is rewarding. Although, what is more, is it pleasant to gaze at a welcoming community? Having a college education further extends my support to positively impact others with my passions. Whenever volunteering opportunities arise, I have the values, role and commitment to boldly pursue them.

After completing the leadership training from RYLA Hawai’i, l developed two values in leadership. I valued personal courage and limitless service to the community. I tested these values when I became the club president of STEM. Management was difficult with academics. I felt as if I did not belong as the club president. Though, the goals of the club drove our team to extend our club’s capabilities. We hosted monthly challenges for club members concentrating on the club’s theme of critical thinking and collaboration. Further, our efforts led to a successful fundraising event that landed us a STEM conference in Oahu. This motivated me to look up to more heights. Through furthering my capabilities, I strived to add value to my community. I seized new opportunities and joined service clubs such as Bluezones and Key Club. I participated in the Adopt-A-Highway cleanup, where debris composed of plastic and paper is collected by the curbside of the school. Last summer, I was presented with an opportunity to join the Summer Academy from Upward Bound. Though, my fear of social anxiety discouraged me to decline. My parents provided me with solace and encouraged me to express myself who I am. I leaped. The first day was memorable, and thrilling at first. I met new members and bonded with their diverse stories and culture. And by the end of summer, I found myself in a community where I could sing, dance or cry with. My experience in the Summer Academy unveiled the importance of having a community. Therefore, I joined service clubs such as Bluezones and Key-Club. I participated in the Adopt-A-Highway cleanup, where debris is collected by the curbside of the school. Further, assisted with visitors and preparing classrooms during the KKPCA Summit. I pursued the STEAM CapStone in developing the re-envisioned school website that brought value to teachers and students. Despite my project difficulties, I persevered. We live in a world where higher education is expensive; knowledge is its own commodity. Fifty percent of the scholarship will fund my college tuition. At UH Hilo, I plan to study Computer Science (C.S.), pursuing a Data Science degree. The courses in Python for Data Analysis and Artificial Intelligence allowed me to advance in Data Science. In their data visualization laboratory, I pursued machine learning projects. A project idea is integrating artificial intelligence with interior design through the lab’s AR platform. Perhaps styling rooms and dorms will be easier than moving the furniture. Perhaps another project utilized the lab’s CyberCANOE. Such an idea is to monitor reef colonies in a geometric display and collaborate with marine biologists for future decisions in maintaining the marine ecosystem. The other fifty percent of the scholarship is invested in subscriptions from various online educational platforms (Brilliant and Coursera). These platforms will expand my learning and attain official certificates that validate my professional development. I further will have the qualifications necessary to land in paid internships or emerging start-ups that have a contribution to the community. Having a college education further extends my support to positively impact others with my passions. Whenever volunteering opportunities arise, I have the role and commitment to boldly pursue them.

The world is in a sea of data. With Big Data exponentially growing, I am intrigued by how data is utilized. In Apple’s Siri, speech recognition is possible from neuro-linguistic programming. Or from Google Earth, 3-D imagery of Earth is developed by integrating deep-learning and geographic information systems. Math is rooted in many fields from business, and biology to engineering. It is the abstract foundation that propelled industries to progress. I loved math for its versatility, elegance, and practical applications. As an upcoming Data Scientist, math is centered in my daily responsibilities. From interpreting data and developing predictive models, even a machine learning project composed of a complex mathematical framework. Linear Algebra in manipulating matrices; Calculus in optimizing functions; and, Statistics in validating my model’s performance. Such numbers and graphs could unveil hidden stories and insights into our world. I further immersed myself in mathematical problems. I’ve taken an algebra problem from the IIT JEE sample paper. In my honesty, I was stuck for hours scribbling down my notes. Numbers and expressions were everywhere. There are lots of possible solutions, but none of them make sense. Until I finally watched the steps for the solution. It is surprisingly simple that revolved my head around. I was not frustrated that I had not accomplished a problem. Although, there were a lot of lightbulbs that lit up. I bloomed to amazement throughout the ride. Solving complex problems can look daring since its simplicity is often overlooked. Math is an abstract language of patterns and logic. Therefore, complex problems can express into simple building blocks unlocking solutions that might otherwise be hidden from view. From math theorems that prospered in industries, other theorems could improve our personal lives. I utilized Bayes’ Theorem to adopt a holistic perspective and update my beliefs with new evidence. The Pareto principle (derived from Power Law Distribution) stated 80% of outcomes come from 20% of causes [efforts]. Following the principle led to maximizing my productivity and work efficiency. I confess that Math is beautiful. I appreciate the versatility and practical applications of math in my upcoming career and personal life. Mathematics challenges my intuitions and analytical abilities. My problems became painted with my creativity and persistence. I began to expand my boundaries. In the words of Albert Einstein, “Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” I couldn’t agree more.