Leadership is a core part of who I am, as seen being the team captain for varsity’s girls’ tennis team, president of Mastermind’s club (along with being the team captain for the varsity team), treasurer for class officers, and salutatorian. As a leader, I am committed to being a team member for every community I am part of and contributing towards the goal of making a positive impact on my community. As treasurer, I plan extensively fundraising events and execute them successfully to raise money for class events. For example, last minute, we were notified that we were allowed to host a cider x donut sale for the Halloween Fright Festival. Spurring on this information, I took charge of organizing the fundraising event. I quickly reached out to local vendors to see if we would get a discount for ciders or donuts. After calling several shops, but to no avail, I resorted to ordering online. I placed an order, noting the pickup time and planning the best route for the vice president to pick up all the items. Next, I messaged the class officers group chat to get several volunteers to help at the event. After the event, we sold a total of 4 gallons of apple cider and 6 dozen donuts, raising approximately $100 in profit in 4 hours! The money we raise is used towards creating bonding events for our class for everyone to take part in without worrying about affordability. From these events, I learned that I enjoy planning things out to great details, and I prioritize organization, punctuality, and efficiency. This showed me that I thrive in a fast-paced environment and can collaborate efficiently in a group whether as a member following my assigned roles or taking charge as a leader and distributing tasks for others to collectively carry out large feats. By working together well with others, we can accomplish more, and larger, accomplishments rather than if we were to individually. As part of class officers, I have networked with many individuals and organizations which opened many opportunities for me to bond with my community, such as speaking at numerous Board of Education meetings as a representative of my school and volunteering at the local hospital weekly. Holding numerous leadership positions has made me a better communication, leader, and adapter, all are vital skills that I highly value. My core values, learner, leader, and community are fundamental to who I am and influence my world view. This past summer was filled with numerous opportunities to grow and learn new knowledge, such as through the Girls Who Code Self Immersion Program which is dedicated to closing the gender gap in the computer science field. Now, as a member of the GWC Alumni community, I look forward to fostering a supportive network dedicated to helping other women and non-binary people discover and pursue their interests in technology through participation in summit to sharing my knowledge in the field. Just like how I was supported greatly from the guidance and support of mentors who have helped me both personally, I aspire to pay it forward by encouraging other women by being a mentor to others and assisting them in their career growth. By sharing my knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned, I hope to inspire and empower others to reach their full potential and contribute to a more diverse and skilled workforce in society. As I continue being a leader, I am determined to be a mentor to others, increase diversity, and make a positive impact on my community.

Joining the Student DELL Helpdesk sophomore year at my school was at first on a whim. However, that whim has now turned into a passion. As I began to work towards my DELL Client Foundations Certificate in 2021, I found myself intrigued by the content and wanting to learn more. Ever since I can remember, math has always been my favorite subject. The satisfaction after solving a problem motivates me to keep applying my knowledge and use critical thinking to find the answer. Not only does my passion for the field propel me to success in computer science, but my goal of becoming a software developer furthermore fuels me. Over the course of years, I have taken part in several hackathons, internships, as well as coding programs and have since realized that computers are essential for many parts of our lives. I aim to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in the rapidly growing computer science industry. By continuously learning, I aim to bring new ideas to discussions and contribute to making a positive impact on my community. For example, with my knowledge in computer science, I could code programs to analyze the soil characteristics thus providing our team with real-time information to boost their crop yields, which can be further expanded to check the air quality as crop production losses can be alleviated by air quality improvements. In addition, we could take it a step further by using programming combined with science, to ensure that the products produced are perfectly ripe when picked, with no flaws nor pollutants and are full of nutrients. By doing so, computer science can help increase product yield and provide more nutrition thus leading to healthier people. Just like how a plant requires certain things to grow, humans require basic needs to survive, food, water, and shelter. By applying computer science to the issue of food security, I will ensure people globally all have one of the three basic human needs to survive, food. I want to ensure that no one must experience being hungry unwillingly. My goal is to apply my education to solve real world problems, such as food security. In addition, as a member of the Girls Who Code Alumni community, I look forward to fostering a supportive network dedicated to helping other women and non-binary people discover and pursue their interests in technology through participation in summit to sharing my knowledge in the field. Just like how I was supported greatly from the guidance and support of mentors who have helped me both personally, I aspire to pay it forward by encouraging other women by being a mentor to others and assisting them in their career growth. By sharing my knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned, I hope to inspire and empower others to reach their full potential and contribute to a more diverse and skilled workforce in society.

What could go wrong? Well, anything. We cannot predict what exactly will happen, but we can use our existing knowledge to make informed decisions to somewhat control the outcome of our future. Joining the Student DELL Helpdesk sophomore year at my school was at first on a whim. Plenty of things could have gone wrong. What if I was an outcast and could not fit in? What if I did not have the knowledge to succeed in the Helpdesk? What if I ended up not enjoying the club? However, that whim has now turned into a passion. As I began to work towards my DELL Client Foundations Certificate in 2021, I found myself intrigued by the content and wanting to learn more. I did not care if I was not one of the majorities, I was fine being one of the only females. Ever since I can remember, math has always been my favorite subject. The satisfaction after solving a problem motivates me to keep applying my knowledge and use critical thinking to find the answer. Not only does my passion for the field propel me to success in computer science, but my goal of becoming a software developer furthermore fuels me. Over the course of years, I have taken part in several hackathons, internships, as well as coding programs and have since realized that computers are essential for many parts of our lives. I aim to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in the rapidly growing computer science industry. By continuously learning, I aim to bring new ideas to discussions and contribute to making a positive impact on my community. What could go wrong? Well, Earth will one day be unable to feed the growing human population. People could be extremely malnourished. In fact, we already saw in 2022 that approximately 9% of people are affected by hunger, an increase from the 8% reported in 2019. With my knowledge in computer science, I could code programs to analyze the soil characteristics thus providing our team with real-time information to boost their crop yields, which can be further expanded to check the air quality as crop production losses can be alleviated by air quality improvements. In addition, we could take it a step further by using programming combined with science, to ensure that the products produced are perfectly ripe when picked, with no flaws nor pollutants and are full of nutrients. By doing so, computer science can help increase product yield and provide more nutrition thus leading to healthier people. Just like how a plant requires certain things to grow, humans require basic needs to survive, food, water, and shelter. By applying computer science to the issue of food security, I will ensure people globally all have one of the three basic human needs to survive, food. I want to ensure that no one must experience being hungry unwillingly. My goal is to apply my education to solve real world problems, such as food security. While I can not predict what exactly will happen in the next hundred of years, I know my hardworking preserving nature will ensure me to commit to making a positive impact on a global scale by provide stability and reliability.

Joining the Student DELL Helpdesk sophomore year at my school was at first on a whim. However, that whim has now turned into a passion. As I began to work towards my DELL Client Foundations Certificate in 2021, I found myself intrigued by the content and wanting to learn more. Ever since I can remember, math has always been my favorite subject. The satisfaction after solving a problem motivates me to keep applying my knowledge and use critical thinking to find the answer. Not only does my passion for the field propel me to success in computer science, but my goal of becoming a software developer furthermore fuels me. Over the course of years, I have taken part in several hackathons, internships, as well as coding programs and have since realized that computers are essential for many parts of our lives. I aim to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in the rapidly growing computer science industry. By continuously learning, I aim to bring new ideas to discussions and contribute to making a positive impact on my community. For example, with my knowledge in computer science, I could code programs to analyze the soil characteristics thus providing our team with real-time information to boost their crop yields, which can be further expanded to check the air quality as crop production losses can be alleviated by air quality improvements. In addition, we could take it a step further by using programming combined with science, to ensure that the products produced are perfectly ripe when picked, with no flaws nor pollutants and are full of nutrients. By doing so, computer science can help increase product yield and provide more nutrition thus leading to healthier people. Just like how a plant requires certain things to grow, humans require basic needs to survive, food, water, and shelter. By applying computer science to the issue of food security, I will ensure people globally all have one of the three basic human needs to survive, food. I want to ensure that no one must experience being hungry unwillingly. My goal is to apply my education to solve real world problems, such as food security. In addition, as a member of the Girls Who Code Alumni community, I look forward to fostering a supportive network dedicated to helping other women and non-binary people discover and pursue their interests in technology through participation in summit to sharing my knowledge in the field. Just like how I was supported greatly from the guidance and support of mentors who have helped me both personally, I aspire to pay it forward by encouraging other women by being a mentor to others and assisting them in their career growth. By sharing my knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned, I hope to inspire and empower others to reach their full potential and contribute to a more diverse and skilled workforce in society.

Being involved in numerous extracurricular activities, including being a member and captain of the Girl’s Varsity team, has made me a better communicator, leader, and adapter, all of which are vital skills. Since joining tennis after the pandemic, I have worked hard to improve my abilities. Despite losing many matches, I always looked forward to my teammates and coach pointing out my mistakes and weakness and teaching me methods to overcome them. In addition, I seek help from resources online in order to improve my techniques. With their aid, along with my determination to progress, I have seen significant improvements in my performance. With that being said, as a member of the Girls Who Code Alumni community, I look forward to fostering a supportive network dedicated to helping other girls and non-binary people discover and pursue their interests in the tech industry through participation in summit to share my knowledge in the field. Just like how I was supported greatly from the guidance and support of my teammates and coach, I aspire to pay it forward by encouraging other women by being a mentor to others and assisting them in their career growth. By sharing my knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned, I hope to inspire and empower others to reach their full potential and contribute to a more diverse and skilled workforce in society. As part of tennis, I have experienced playing singles and doubles. From singles, I have learned a sense of independence while from doubles I learned a sense of teamwork and have improved my communication skills. By working together well with any of my teammates, I have felt a stronger sense of team. No matter which matches my coach has assigned me, I know that I am responsible for the outcome of the match. This has shown me the importance of taking ownership of my actions. When I missed a shot, I analyze the reason behind it, whether it be my timing, my speed, or my swing, I know I will need to focus on not making that mistake the next time. If I was not able to reach the ball in time, I know that the next time, I will need to run faster the next time. There is a constant need for improvements in my skills. Additionally, it shows that I am aware of my shortcomings and highlights that I am ready to fix them and improve myself.

One of the lyrics from Olivia Rodrigo's album ‘GUTS’ that particularly resonates with my own teenage experience is from the song "Vampire," where she sings, "Went for me and not her / 'Cause girls your age know better." This line captures the tumultuous nature of teenage relationships, the pain of betrayal, and the intense emotions that accompany young love. Adolescence is a period marked by heightened emotions and the search for identity. The lyric "Went for me and not her / 'Cause girls your age know better" reflects the insecurity and confusion that often accompany teenage relationships. During these years, individuals are navigating their own self-worth while trying to understand the intentions and feelings of others. The line suggests a sense of betrayal and self-doubt, common themes in the teenage experience. This lyric resonates deeply with my own teenage years, a time when relationships felt like the center of the universe. Every interaction was laden with significance, and the fear of rejection or betrayal was ever-present. The line speaks to the vulnerability that comes with opening oneself up to another person, only to be hurt by their actions. The comparison between oneself and another girl, implied by "girls your age know better," underscores the insecurity that many teenagers feel. It's a reminder of the constant self-evaluation and the nagging question of whether one is good enough. The essence of adolescence is captured in this lyric through its portrayal of raw, unfiltered emotions. Teenagers often experience emotions in their most intense form, and the pain of betrayal can feel overwhelming. The line encapsulates the heartbreak and confusion of realizing that someone you trusted has chosen to be with someone else. It also touches on the theme of self-blame, as the speaker implies that she should have known better, highlighting the internal struggle of self-worth and the tendency to internalize the actions of others. Furthermore, the lyric speaks to the social dynamics of teenage life. Peer comparison is a significant aspect of adolescence, where individuals constantly measure themselves against their peers. The reference to "girls your age" reflects the competitive nature of teenage relationships, where validation often comes from being chosen over someone else. This can lead to a damaging cycle of comparison and self-doubt, as teenagers strive to meet perceived standards of attractiveness and desirability. In my own teenage experience, I vividly remember the intensity of my first heartbreak and the feelings of inadequacy that followed. Like the lyric, I questioned why I wasn't enough and compared myself to others, wondering what they had that I lacked. These emotions are universal in the teenage experience, where every setback feels monumental, and every slight can leave a lasting impact. Olivia Rodrigo's "Vampire" captures the essence of adolescence by delving into the emotional complexities of teenage relationships. The lyric "Went for me and not her / 'Cause girls your age know better" poignantly expresses the vulnerability, insecurity, and intense emotions that define this stage of life. It serves as a reminder that adolescence is a time of profound emotional growth, where the challenges of young love and the search for identity often collide in a whirlwind of feelings. In conclusion, the lyric from "Vampire" encapsulates the essence of adolescence by highlighting the raw emotions and internal struggles that accompany teenage relationships. It resonates with the universal experience of heartbreak and self-doubt, reminding us of the intense and often tumultuous nature of young love. Through this lyric, Olivia Rodrigo captures the vulnerability and complexity of adolescence, offering a poignant reflection on the challenges that come with growing up.

The path to education for my parents was a long and continuous one. My parents had to travel very far to school and have only completed some grade school education. After completing some years in school, they had to stop to help on their parents’ farm. After immigrating to the US, they learned English, a continuous learning still occurring now. As a result, as a young child, I only had basic knowledge of English therefore struggled understanding my teachers and classmates, was unable to articulate my thoughts, and had difficulty completing assignments. As a result, I was placed in English to Speakers of Other Languages in first grade. Using this event as motivation, I was dedicated to learning English, with the continued help of my teachers. Even though I stumbled numerous times over the pronunciation of complicated words, such as "eye", or confused over homophones, such as "right" and "write", I stay committed to overcoming my adversity. During that year, I read all the books in the brightly colored bins out on the wooden rack in my classroom during reading time to test my proficiency. As I closed the last book, I felt overjoyed knowing I understood all the words said. I was able to help my parents converse with others, hold conversations, and understand what was said while watching movies. I began checking out books from the local library, stepping up from the simple books, moving up to the 2nd-3rd grade books. I implored over the Magic Tree House Series, laughed at the Judy B. Jones Series, and investigated the crimes along with Dink, Josh, and Ruth in the A-to-Z Mysteries Series. Since overcoming the language barrier, I have always been interested in absorbing the vast knowledge surrounding me. Even after taking numerous rigorous courses and several summer programs, I am still amazed how much more knowledge there is that I have not yet uncovered. Being an advocate learner is a core part of who I am. I truly believe that to have a fulfilling life, one must always stay curious and dedicate one’s life to continuous learning. Though my parents were not educated beyond grade school, I drew inspiration from their sacrifice of education. They have bestowed upon me a deep gratitude for my community, a passion for learning, and the spirit to pursue my goals. From my upbringing stemmed my strong work ethic as my parents have taught me the importance of education, making sure I attend school daily. Due to my unwavering dedication, I have been able to get into the National Honor Society, maintain a perfect attendance streak, and graduate as salutatorian of a class of 216 students all while being involved in numerous extracurriculars activities and volunteering in the community. My intense desire to know, to absorb the vast knowledge surrounding me is what defines me. Overcoming the language barrier fueled my hunger for knowledge and pursuit of higher education. To anyone facing similar circumstances, my advice is to approach adversity with a mindset of perseverance. Don’t hesitate to seek guidance from others who may have more experience or expertise. Remember that setbacks are a natural part of the journey, and overcoming them often leads to personal and professional growth. Embrace the challenge, learn from it, and let it drive you toward greater achievements. In essence, adversity, while challenging, can be a powerful catalyst for personal development. By facing difficulties with determination and a willingness to adapt, we not only overcome obstacles but also emerge more resilient and capable.

The path to education for my parents was a long and continuous one. My parents had to travel very far to school and have only completed some grade school education. After completing some years in school, they had to stop to help on their parents’ farm. After immigrating to the US, they learned English, a continuous learning still occurring now. As a result, as a young child, I only had basic knowledge of English, struggle understanding my teachers, and was unable to articulate my thoughts. Thus, I was placed in English to Speakers of Other Languages in first grade. Once I was able to understand English, I could not help but notice the world around me brightening up. I was able to help my parents converse with others, hold conversations with others, and fully understand each word said. Since then, I have always been interested in absorbing the vast knowledge surrounding me. Even after taking numerous rigorous courses and several summer programs, I am still amazed how much more knowledge there is that I have not yet uncovered. Being an advocate learner is a core part of who I am. I truly believe that to have a fulfilling life, one must always stay curious and dedicate one’s life to continuous learning. Though my parents were not educated beyond grade school, I drew inspiration from their sacrifice of education. They have bestowed upon me a deep gratitude for my community, a passion for learning, and the spirit to pursue my goals. I am excited to pursue higher level education this coming fall as a female majoring in computer science. By applying computer science to the issue of food security, I will ensure people globally all have one of the three basic human needs to survive, food. I want to ensure that no one must experience being hungry unwillingly. With my knowledge in computer science, I could code programs to analyze the soil characteristics thus providing our team with real-time information to boost their crop yields, which can be further expanded to check the air quality as crop production losses can be alleviated by air quality improvements. In addition, we could take it a step further by using programming combined with science, to ensure that the products produced are perfectly ripe when picked, with no flaws nor pollutants and are full of nutrients. By doing so, computer science can help increase product yield and provide more nutrition thus leading to healthier people. I am inspired by William Griggs and his commitment to promoting education and research in science and math, as well as his dedication to advancing knowledge and promoting diversity and inclusivity in STEM. Receiving the William Griggs Memorial Scholarship for Science and Math would provide me with the financial support necessary to continue my education and utilize it to make a positive impact globally while also allowing me to expand my outreach efforts and inspire more young girls and underrepresented groups to pursue their dreams in STEM.

I believe in giving back to your community and contributing to a more influential community is very important for self-development. I have helped at the Rochester General Hospital once a week, for 3 hours since December 2022 in various units to assist hospital staff with any non-medical tasks. The feeling of helping others in my community is comforting as I know I am making someone’s day brighter. I will never forget the feeling of giving back to my community, thus I plan to continue volunteering at least once a week, no matter how busy life gets. My core values, learner, leader, and community are fundamental to who I am and influence my world view. With extreme weather conditions, contaminated water, and poverty, people around the world are unable to produce enough food to sustain a household, never mind a population. With that being said, it has been my goal to start a non-profit dedicated to solving world hunger. To target this issue, I plan to start multiple community gardens regionally and eventually expand worldwide. I plan to impart knowledge to the people nearby while also donating the produce to the locals. Therefore, the community can self-sustain and teach the generations after them well after the time has come for us to leave the fostering community in search for another community to teach. Additionally, I could code programs to analyze the soil characteristics thus providing our team with real-time information to boost their crop yields, which can be further expanded to check the air quality as crop production losses can be alleviated by air quality improvements. In addition, we could take it a step further by using programming combined with science, to ensure that the products produced are perfectly ripe when picked, with no flaws nor pollutants and are full of nutrients. By applying computer science to the issue of food security, I will ensure people globally all have one of the three basic human needs to survive, food. In addition, I hope to inspire and empower others to reach their full potential and contribute to a more diverse and skilled workforce in society by sharing my knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned to others. This past summer, I participated in a Girls Who Code Self Immersion Program which teaches women coding skills and apply their knowledge towards creating games in Replit. As a member of the GWC Alumni community, I look forward to fostering a supportive network dedicated to helping other minorities discover and pursue their interests in computer science. Just like how I was supported greatly from the guidance and support of mentors who have helped me both personally, I aspire to pay it forward by being a mentor to others and assisting them in their career growth.

I’m not sure who started it first, but I remember hitting another kid with plastic blocks after he hit me and we continued to tap back and forth, neither side backing down until we were intervened by our teacher. She asked me in a stern voice, “Did you hit him on accident or on purpose? I did not know what either “accident” nor “purpose” meant, but I did know that “A” came before “P”, so as a child, I reasoned that “accident” is be a better word to respond with compared to “purpose”. After all, first is the best, second is the worst. At the brink of tears, knowing that I was being scolded, I replied with “accident”. And it was true, it was not on purpose. Regardless, I, along with the kid, was sent to the Principal Office. As a young child, I did not understand much of what was said to me. My parents both immigrated to the United States and did not speak English. As a result, I did not speak proficient English, and only understood basic terms. I was placed in English to Speakers of Other Languages in first grade. I had to overcome the challenge of not speaking English and was unable to articulate my thoughts clearly to others. Using the event as motivation, I purposefully learned English, with the continued help of my the teacher. During that year, I read all the books in the brightly colored bins out on the wooden rack during reading time to test my proficiency. As I closed the last book, I felt overjoyed knowing I understood all the words said. I could not help but notice the world around me brightening up. I was able to help my parents converse with others, hold conversations, and understand what was said while watching movies. I began checking out books from the local library, stepping up from the simple books, moving up to the 2nd-3rd grade books. I implored over the Magic Tree House Series, laughed at the Judy B. Jones Series, and investigated the crimes along with Dink, Josh, and Ruth in the A-to-Z Mysteries Series. Since then, I have always been interested in absorbing the vast knowledge surrounding me. Even after taking numerous rigorous courses and several summer programs, I am still amazed how much more knowledge there is that I have not yet uncovered. Being an advocate learner is a core part of who I am. I truly believe that to have a fulfilling life, one must always stay curious and dedicate one’s life to continuous learning. Ever since I can remember, my family qualifies for Medicaid, fee waivers on SAT and ACT, and free school meals. Despite being low income, I am excited to be a first-generation student and pursue my dream of majoring in computer science and becoming a software developer dedicated to being a force of positive change. I know that my academic and career goals will motivate me in life to keep persisting and are worthy of consideration for this scholarship.

As a child, I only had basic knowledge of English, struggled understanding my teachers, and was unable to articulate my thoughts as English was not spoken in my household. Thus, I was placed in English to Speakers of Other Languages in first grade. Once I was able to understand English, I could not help but notice the world around me brightening up. Since then, I have always been interested in absorbing the vast knowledge surrounding me. Even after taking numerous rigorous courses and several summer programs, I am still amazed how much more knowledge there is that I have not yet uncovered. Being an advocate learner is a core part of who I am. I truly believe that to have a fulfilling life, one must always stay curious and dedicate one’s life to continuous learning. Though my parents were not educated beyond grade school, I drew inspiration from their sacrifice of education. They have bestowed upon me a deep gratitude for my community, a passion for learning, and the spirit to pursue my goals. Joining the Student DELL Helpdesk sophomore year at my school was at first on a whim. However, that whim has now turned into a passion. As I began to work towards my DELL Client Foundations Certificate in 2021, I found myself intrigued by the content and wanting to learn more. Ever since I can remember, math has always been my favorite subject. The satisfaction after solving a problem motivates me to keep applying my knowledge and use critical thinking to find the answer. Not only does my passion for the field propel me to success in information technology, but my goal of becoming a software developer furthermore fuels me. I strongly believe pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science is a crucial step towards fulfilling my career aspiration. Over the course of years, I have taken part in several hackathons as well as coding programs and have since realized that computers are essential for many parts of our lives. I plan to be proficient in JavaScript, SQL, and Python whilst earning my computer science degree, thus taking the first steps to becoming a software developer. I aim to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in the rapidly growing computer science industry. By continuously learning, I aim to bring new ideas to discussions and contribute to making a positive impact on my community as I apply my knowledge to solve global issues. For example, to target the issue food insecurity, I could code programs to analyze the soil characteristics thus providing our team with real-time information to boost their crop yields, which can be further expanded to check the air quality as crop production losses can be alleviated by air quality improvements. In addition, I could take it a step further by using programming combined with science, to ensure that the products produced are perfectly ripe when picked, with no flaws nor pollutants and are full of nutrients. By doing so, computer science can help increase product yield and provide more nutrition thus leading to healthier people. I am excited to be able to apply my knowledge in order to make a positive impact on my community. Despite being low income, I am excited to be a first-generation student and pursue my dream of becoming a software developer for NY. Awarding this scholarship will make a great contribution to my study in computer science as it will allow me to focus my attention on my studies.

Joining the Student DELL Helpdesk sophomore year at my school was at first on a whim. However, that whim has now turned into a passion. As I began to work towards my DELL Client Foundations Certificate in 2021, I found myself intrigued by the content and wanting to learn more. Ever since I can remember, math has always been my favorite subject. The satisfaction after solving a problem motivates me to keep applying my knowledge and use critical thinking to find the answer. Not only does my passion for the field propel me to success in computer science, but my goal of becoming a software developer furthermore fuels me. I strongly believe pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science is a crucial step towards fulfilling my career aspiration. Over the course of years, I have taken part in several hackathons as well as coding programs and have since realized that computers are essential for many parts of our lives. I plan to be proficient in JavaScript, SQL, and Python whilst earning my computer science degree, thus taking the first steps to becoming a software developer. I aim to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in the rapidly growing computer science industry. By continuously learning, I aim to bring new ideas to discussions and contribute to making a positive impact on my community as I apply my knowledge to solve global issues. For example, to target the issue food insecurity, I could code programs to analyze the soil characteristics thus providing our team with real-time information to boost their crop yields, which can be further expanded to check the air quality as crop production losses can be alleviated by air quality improvements. In addition, I could take it a step further by using programming combined with science, to ensure that the products produced are perfectly ripe when picked, with no flaws nor pollutants and are full of nutrients. By doing so, computer science can help increase product yield and provide more nutrition thus leading to healthier people. This past summer, I participated in a Girls Who Code Self Immersion Program. To close the gender gap, Girls Who Code host 6-8 weeks long program to teach women coding skills and apply their knowledge towards creating games in Replit. As a member of the Girls Who Code Alumni community, I look forward to fostering a supportive network dedicated to helping other women and non-binary people discover and pursue their interests in accounting through participation in summit to sharing my knowledge in the field. Just like how I was supported greatly from the guidance and support of mentors who have helped me both personally and professionally, I aspire to pay it forward by encouraging other women by being a mentor to others and assisting them in their career growth. By sharing my knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned, I hope to inspire and empower others to reach their full potential and contribute to a more diverse and skilled workforce in society.

Joining the Student DELL Helpdesk sophomore year at my school was at first on a whim. However, that whim has now turned into a passion. As I began to work towards my DELL Client Foundations Certificate in 2021, I found myself intrigued by the content and wanting to learn more. Ever since I can remember, math has always been my favorite subject. The satisfaction after solving a problem motivates me to keep applying my knowledge and use critical thinking to find the answer. Not only does my passion for the field propel me to success in computer science, but my goal of becoming a software developer furthermore fuels me. I strongly believe pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science is a crucial step towards fulfilling my career aspiration. Over the course of years, I have taken part in several hackathons as well as coding programs and have since realized that computers are essential for many parts of our lives. I aim to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in the rapidly growing computer science industry. By continuously learning, I aim to bring new ideas to discussions and one day create a business dedicated to making a positive impact on my community as we apply our knowledge to solve global issues. For example, to target the issue food insecurity, our business could code programs to analyze the soil characteristics thus providing our team with real-time information to boost their crop yields, which can be further expanded to check the air quality as crop production losses can be alleviated by air quality improvements. In addition, we could take it a step further by using programming combined with science, to ensure that the products produced are perfectly ripe when picked, with no flaws nor pollutants and are full of nutrients. By doing so, computer science can help increase product yield and provide more nutrition thus leading to healthier people. My businesses would be dedicated to continuously work hard to make a positive impact one person at a time. Leadership is a core part of who I am, as seen being the team captain for varsity’s girls’ tennis team, president of Mastermind’s club (along with being the team captain for the varsity team), treasurer for class officers. As class treasurer I have planned numerous successful fundraising events with my peers and advisors to raise money for class events. For example, last minute, we were notified that we were allowed to host a cider x donut sale for the Halloween Fright Festival. Spurring on this information, I quickly reached out to local vendors to see if we would get a discount for ciders or donuts. After calling several shops, but to no avail, I resorted to ordering online. With the carefully selected products, I placed an order, noting the pickup time and planning the best route to pick up all the items. We sold a total of 4 gallons of apple cider and 6 dozen donuts, raising approximately $100 in profit in 4 hours! From these events, I learned that I prioritize organization, punctuality, and efficiency. This showed me that I thrive in a fast-paced environment and can collaborate efficiently in a group. As part of class officers, I have networked with many individuals and organizations which opened many opportunities for me, such as speaking at numerous Board of Education meetings as a representative of my school. Holding numerous leadership positions has made me a better communication, leader, and adapter, all are vital skills that I highly value.

Joining the Student DELL Helpdesk sophomore year at my school was at first on a whim. However, that whim has now turned into a passion. As I began to work towards my DELL Client Foundations Certificate in 2021, I found myself intrigued by the content and wanting to learn more. Ever since I can remember, math has always been my favorite subject. The satisfaction after solving a problem motivates me to keep applying my knowledge and use critical thinking to find the answer. Not only does my passion for the field propel me to success in information technology, but my goal of becoming a software developer furthermore fuels me. I strongly believe pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science is a crucial step towards fulfilling my career aspiration. Over the course of years, I have taken part in several hackathons as well as coding programs and have since realized that computers are essential for many parts of our lives. I plan to be proficient in JavaScript, SQL, and Python whilst earning my computer science degree, thus taking the first steps to becoming a software developer. I aim to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in the rapidly growing computer science industry. By continuously learning, I aim to bring new ideas to discussions and contribute to making a positive impact on my community as I apply my knowledge to solve global issues. For example, to target the issue food insecurity, I could code programs to analyze the soil characteristics thus providing our team with real-time information to boost their crop yields, which can be further expanded to check the air quality as crop production losses can be alleviated by air quality improvements. In addition, I could take it a step further by using programming combined with science, to ensure that the products produced are perfectly ripe when picked, with no flaws nor pollutants and are full of nutrients. By doing so, computer science can help increase product yield and provide more nutrition thus leading to healthier people. I am dedicated to continuously work hard towards reaching my goals of making a positive impact one person at a time. This past summer, I participated in a Girls Who Code Self Immersion Program. To close the gender gap, Girls Who Code host 6-8 weeks long program to teach women coding skills and apply their knowledge towards creating games in Replit. As a member of the Girls Who Code Alumni community, I look forward to fostering a supportive network dedicated to helping other women and non-binary people discover and pursue their interests in technology field through participation in summit to sharing my knowledge in the field. Just like how I was supported greatly from the guidance and support of mentors who have helped me both personally and professionally, I aspire to pay it forward by encouraging other women by being a mentor to others and assisting them in their career growth. By sharing my knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned, I hope to inspire and empower others to reach their full potential and contribute to a more diverse and skilled workforce in society.

Clink. Clank. Clang. The rhythmic echoing sounds of the steel chuan (spatula) and hoak (ladle) cooking the food in the wok by the chefs in the kitchen. The aromatic smell lingering in the air of the stuffy kitchen. That is the nostalgic memory of my childhood and continues to be the sound I hear everywhere. The fast-paced environment of the kitchen is still with me even when I am out of the restaurant as I’ve grown accustomed to hearing it. For as long as I can remember, the restaurant has been where I have spent most of my time. Every day after school, on weekends, and during the summer, I have helped at my parents’ restaurant since I was a young child. I quickly picked up on the functioning well-oiled system that my parents run, starting with taking customer’s order, cooking food, packing orders, to being able to manage the system on my own as my parents step out to run errands. Growing up in this setting, I had to balance assisting at the restaurant, academic studies, extracurricular activities, sport commitment, and volunteering. This has taught me the value of responsibility, communication, time-management, and sacrifice. My upbringing motivates me to continuously work hard towards reaching my goals of making a positive impact one person at a time. The path to education for my parents was a long and continuous one. My parents had to travel very far to school and have only completed some grade school education. After completing some years in school, they had to stop to help on their parents’ farm. After immigrating to the US, they learned English, a continuous learning still occurring now. As a result, as a young child, I only had basic knowledge of English, struggle understanding my teachers, and was unable to articulate my thoughts. Thus, I was placed in English to Speakers of Other Languages in first grade. Once I was able to understand English, I could not help but notice the world around me brightening up. I was able to help my parents converse with others, hold conversations with others, and fully understand each word said. Since then, I have always been interested in absorbing the vast knowledge surrounding me. Even after taking numerous rigorous courses and several summer programs, I am still amazed how much more knowledge there is that I have not yet uncovered. Being an advocate learner is a core part of who I am. I truly believe that to have a fulfilling life, one must always stay curious and dedicate one’s life to continuous learning. Though my parents were not educated beyond grade school, I drew inspiration from their sacrifice of education. They have bestowed upon me a deep gratitude for my community, a passion for learning, and the spirit to pursue my goals. This past summer, I participated in a Girls Who Code Self Immersion Program. To close the gender gap, Girls Who Code host 6-8 weeks long program to teach women coding skills and apply their knowledge towards creating games in Replit. As a member of the Girls Who Code Alumni community, I look forward to fostering a supportive network dedicated to helping other women and non-binary people discover and pursue their interests in technology field through participation in summit to sharing my knowledge in the field. Just like how I was supported greatly from the guidance and support of mentors who have helped me both personally and professionally, I aspire to pay it forward by encouraging other women by being a mentor to others and assisting them in their career growth. By sharing my knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned, I hope to inspire and empower others to reach their full potential and contribute to a more diverse and skilled workforce in society. Joining the Student DELL Helpdesk sophomore year at my school was at first on a whim. However, that whim has now turned into a passion. As I began to work towards my DELL Client Foundations Certificate in 2021, I found myself intrigued by the content and wanting to learn more. Ever since I can remember, math has always been my favorite subject. The satisfaction after solving a problem motivates me to keep applying my knowledge and use critical thinking to find the answer. Not only does my passion for the field propel me to success in information technology, but my goal of becoming a software developer furthermore fuels me. I strongly believe pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science is a crucial step towards fulfilling my career aspiration. Over the course of years, I have taken part in several hackathons as well as coding programs and have since realized that computers are essential for many parts of our lives. I plan to be proficient in JavaScript, SQL, and Python whilst earning my computer science degree, thus taking the first steps to becoming a software developer. I aim to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in the rapidly growing computer science industry. By continuously learning, I aim to bring new ideas to discussions and contribute to making a positive impact on my community as I apply my knowledge to solve global issues. For example, to target the issue food insecurity, I could code programs to analyze the soil characteristics thus providing our team with real-time information to boost their crop yields, which can be further expanded to check the air quality as crop production losses can be alleviated by air quality improvements. In addition, I could take it a step further by using programming combined with science, to ensure that the products produced are perfectly ripe when picked, with no flaws nor pollutants and are full of nutrients. By doing so, computer science can help increase product yield and provide more nutrition thus leading to healthier people.

As a young child, I only had basic knowledge of English, struggled understanding my teachers, and was unable to articulate my thoughts as English was not spoken in my household. Therefore, I was placed in English to Speakers of Other Languages in first grade. Once I was able to understand English, I could not help but notice the world around me brightening up as I was able to fully understand each word said. Since then, I have always been interested in absorbing the vast knowledge surrounding me. Even after taking numerous rigorous courses and several summer programs, I am still amazed how much more knowledge there is that I have not yet uncovered. Being an advocate learner is a core part of who I am. I truly believe that to have a fulfilling life, one must always stay curious and dedicate one’s life to continuous learning. Though my parents were not educated beyond grade school, I drew inspiration from their sacrifice of education. They have bestowed upon me a deep gratitude for my community, a passion for learning, and the spirit to pursue my goals. Joining the Student DELL Helpdesk sophomore year at my school was at first on a whim. However, that whim has now turned into a passion. As I began to work towards my DELL Client Foundations Certificate in 2021, I found myself intrigued by the content and wanting to learn more. Not only does my passion for the field propel me to success in computer science, but my goal of becoming a software developer furthermore fuels me. I strongly believe pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science is a crucial step towards fulfilling my career aspiration. Over the course of years, I have taken part in several hackathons as well as coding programs and have since realized that computers are essential for many parts of our lives. I plan to be proficient in JavaScript, SQL, and Python whilst earning my computer science degree, thus taking the first steps to becoming a software developer. I aim to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in the rapidly growing computer science industry. By continuously learning, I aim to bring new ideas to discussions and contribute to making a positive impact in my community by applying my knowledge to solve issues globally. Over the summer, I participated in a Girls Who Code Self Immersion Program. To close the gender gap, Girls Who Code host 6-8 weeks long program to teach women coding skills and apply their knowledge towards creating games in Replit. As a member of the Girls Who Code Alumni community, I look forward to fostering a supportive network dedicated to helping other girls and non-binary people discover and pursue their interests in the tech industry through participation in summit to share my knowledge in the field. Just like how I was supported greatly from the guidance and support of mentors who have helped me both personally and professionally, I aspire to pay it forward by encouraging other women by being a mentor to others and assisting them in their career growth. By sharing my knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned, I hope to inspire and empower others to reach their full potential and contribute to a more diverse and skilled workforce in society. My intense desire to know, to absorb the vast knowledge surrounding me is what defines me. Growing up in the restaurant fueled my hunger for knowledge and pursuit of higher education. Despite being low income, I am excited to be a first-generation student and pursue my dream of becoming a software developer.

I believe in giving back to your community and contributing to a more influential community is very important for self-development. I have helped at the Rochester General Hospital once a week, for 3 hours since December 2022 in various units to assist hospital staff with any non-medical tasks. As, I restock gloves and masks, bring blood samples to the Microbiology Lab, discharge patients, show guests to their destination, converse with patients and guests, and bring dfood, drinks, or other items to patients, I am overjoyed knowing that I am supporting my community, and I am making someone’s day brighter. Giving back to my community provides me a sense of fulfillment as I am making a positive impact therefore, I plan to continue volunteering at least once a week indefinitely, no matter how busy life gets. As a young child, I only had basic knowledge of English, struggled understanding my teachers, and was unable to articulate my thoughts due to the lack of English spoken in my household. Therefore, I was placed in ESOL in first grade. Once I was able to understand English, I could not help but notice the world around me brightening up. I was able to hold conversations with others, and fully understand each word said. Since then, I have always been interested in absorbing the vast knowledge surrounding me. Even after taking numerous rigorous courses and several summer programs, I am still amazed how much more knowledge there is that I have not yet uncovered. Being an advocate learner is a core part of who I am. I truly believe that to have a fulfilling life, one must always stay curious and dedicate one’s life to continuous learning. Though my parents were not educated beyond grade school, I drew inspiration from their sacrifice of education. They have bestowed upon me a deep gratitude for my community, a passion for learning, and the spirit to pursue my goals. This past summer, I took a Big Data for Big Policy Problems at eCornell where I was tasked with presenting complex data in a visually engaging and comprehensible manner to uncover insights related to real world problems. Inspired by the systematic approach engineers take when designing solutions, I proposed applying data visualization techniques commonly used in engineering projects. First, I identified the key data points and trends within the provided data. This step mirrored the process of defining objectives and gathering materials. Next, drawing from principles of user design, I brainstormed various visualizations methods to effectively communicate the insights founds. I considered factors such as audience comprehension, aesthetics, and accessibility. These steps required understanding R code needed for such features to show. In RStudio, I crafted charts, graphs, and interactive maps and ensured that the correct data was used for this project. Just as engineers understand how things function, I tested different lines of code to understand the output it provided. I continuously revised the visualizations based on feedback and testing, ensuring clarity and accuracy, like how engineers iterate on prototypes to refine their design. By embracing a systematic approach to problem solving, I transformed raw data into a compelling presentation. The engineering mindset empowered me to tackle challenges beyond my existing knowledge. Not only has this application allowed me to expand my academic horizons, but also, I have cultivated a mindset around constant innovation, learning, and adaptability which dictated my excitement in pursuing a major in computer science. As I continue to pursue my academic and professional endeavors, I embrace the principles of engineering mindset to guide me toward meaningful contributions and impactful solutions.

Joining the Student DELL Helpdesk sophomore year at my school was at first on a whim. However, that whim has now turned into a passion. As I began to work towards my DELL Client Foundations Certificate in 2021, I found myself intrigued by the content and wanting to learn more. Ever since I can remember, math has always been my favorite subject. The satisfaction after solving a problem motivates me to keep applying my knowledge and use critical thinking to find the answer. Not only does my passion for the field propel me to success in information security, but my goal of becoming a software developer furthermore fuels me. I strongly believe pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science is a crucial step towards fulfilling my career aspiration. Over the course of years, I have taken part in several hackathons as well as coding programs and have since realized that computers are essential for many parts of our lives. I plan to be proficient in JavaScript, SQL, and Python whilst earning my computer science degree, thus taking the first steps to becoming a software developer. I aim to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in the rapidly growing computer science industry. By continuously learning, I aim to bring new ideas to discussions and contribute to a community’s success. I am excited to keep working hard and continuously striving for my career goals. Over the summer, I participated in a Girls Who Code Self Immersion Program. To close the gender gap, Girls Who Code host 6-8 weeks long program to teach women coding skills and apply their knowledge towards creating games in Replit. As a member of the Girls Who Code Alumni community, I look forward to fostering a supportive network dedicated to helping other girls and non-binary people discover and pursue their interests in the tech industry through participation in summit to share my knowledge in the field. Just like how I was supported greatly from the guidance and support of mentors who have helped me both personally, I aspire to pay it forward by encouraging other women by being a mentor to others and assisting them in their career growth. By sharing my knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned, I hope to inspire and empower others to reach their full potential and contribute to a more diverse and skilled workforce in society. Despite being low income, I am excited to be a first-generation student and pursue my dream of becoming a software developer. I know that my academic and career goals will motivate me in life to keep persisting and are worthy of consideration for this scholarship. Awarding this scholarship will make a great contribution to my study in computer science as it will allow me to focus my attention on my studies. Furthermore, I’ll be able to continue with my academic achievements as I dedicate my time to my studies and taking on numerous internships. Success to me is being able to have a positive impact on others and on yourself by doing the things you enjoy doing.

The path to education for my parents was a long and continuous one. My parents had to travel very far to school and have only completed some grade school education. After completing some years in school, they had to stop to help on their parents’ farm. After immigrating to the US, they learned English, a continuous learning still occurring now. As a result, as a young child, I only had basic knowledge of English, struggle understanding my teachers, and was unable to articulate my thoughts. Thus, I was placed in English to Speakers of Other Languages in first grade. Once I was able to understand English, I could not help but notice the world around me brightening up. I was able to help my parents converse with others, hold conversations with others, and fully understand each word said. Since then, I have always been interested in absorbing the vast knowledge surrounding me. Even after taking numerous rigorous courses and several summer programs, I am still amazed how much more knowledge there is that I have not yet uncovered. Being an advocate learner is a core part of who I am. I truly believe that to have a fulfilling life, one must always stay curious and dedicate one’s life to continuous learning. Though my parents were not educated beyond grade school, I drew inspiration from their sacrifice of education. They have bestowed upon me a deep gratitude for my community, a passion for learning, and the spirit to pursue my goals. From my upbringing stemmed my strong work ethic as my parents have taught me the importance of education, making sure I attend school daily. Due to my unwavering dedication, I have been able to get into the National Honor Society, hold numerous leadership roles; such as treasurer for class officers, captain of Varsity Girl’s Tennis Team, President of Mastermind, and Leader of Team 1 for Mastermind, maintain a perfect attendance streak, and retain a 4.0 GPA all while being involved in numerous extracurriculars activities and volunteering in the community. My intense desire to know, to absorb the vast knowledge surrounding me is what defines me. Growing up in the restaurant fueled my hunger for knowledge and pursuit of higher education. Ever since I can remember, my family qualifies for Medicaid, fee waivers on SAT and ACT, and free school meals. Despite being low income, I am excited to be a first-generation student and pursue my dream of becoming a software developer. Awarding this scholarship will make a great contribution to my study in computer science as it will allow me to focus my attention on my studies. Furthermore, receiving this scholarship will grant me more opportunities to attend technology-related conferences to learn new knowledge while also spreading my own knowledge. This scholarship will help me achieve my educational and career goals as I’ll be able to continue with my academic achievements as I dedicate my time to my studies and taking on numerous internships.

Clink. Clank. Clang. The rhythmic echoing sounds of the steel chuan (spatula) and hoak (ladle) cooking the food in the wok by the chefs in the kitchen. The aromatic smell lingering in the air of the stuffy kitchen. That is the nostalgic memory of my childhood and continues to be the sound I hear everywhere. The fast-paced environment of the kitchen is still with me even when I am out of the restaurant as I’ve grown accustomed to hearing it. For as long as I can remember, the restaurant has been where I have spent the majority of my time since I was a young child. I quickly picked up on the different roles in the restaurant, starting with taking customer’s order, then advancing to cooking food, packing orders, to being able to manage the system on my own as my parents step out to run errands. This has taught me the value of responsibility, communication, time-management, and sacrifice. Growing up in the restaurant fueled my hunger for knowledge and pursuit of higher education. I am involved in numerous extracurricular activities, such as holding captain of the Girl’s Varsity team, president of Mastermind’s club (along with being the team captain for the varsity team), treasurer for class officers, all while maintaining academic excellence and the desire to give back to my community. After coming back from the pandemic, I wasted no time in joining clubs, sports, and volunteering activities. In November of 2022, I started to volunteer weekly at the Rochester General Hospital and since then, have been a part of various units to assist hospital staff with any non-medical tasks. The feeling of helping others in my community is comforting as I know I am making a positive impact on someone’s life which is the reason why I plan to continue giving back to my community at least once a week, no matter how busy life gets. Being a member, and then later, the captain of the Girl’s Varsity Tennis has made me a better communicator, leader, and adapter, all of which are vital skills. Since joining tennis after the pandemic, I have worked hard to improve my abilities. Despite losing many matches, I always looked forward to my teammates and coach pointing out my mistakes and weakness and teaching me methods to overcome them. In addition, I seek help from resources online in order to improve my techniques. With their aid, along with my determination to progress, I have seen significant improvements in my performance. Over the summer, I participated in a Girls Who Code Self Immersion Program a summer program dedicated to teaching women coding skills and apply their knowledge towards creating games. As a member of the GWC Alumni community, I look forward to fostering a supportive network dedicated to helping other girls and non-binary people discover and pursue their interests in the tech industry through participation in summit to share my knowledge in the field. Just like how I was supported greatly from the guidance and support of mentors who have helped me both personally, I aspire to pay it forward by encouraging other women by being a mentor to others and assisting them in their career growth. By sharing my knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned, I hope to inspire and empower others to reach their full potential and contribute to a more diverse and skilled workforce in society. My core values, learner, leader, and community are fundamental to who I am and influence my world view ensuring that I continue to make a positive impact on my surrounding.

During high school, I have involved in numerous extracurricular activities, such as holding captain of the Girl’s Varsity team, president of Mastermind’s club (along with being the team captain for the varsity team), treasurer for class officers, all while maintaining academic excellence and the desire to give back to my community. As part of class officers, I have networked with many individuals and organizations which opened many opportunities for me, such as speaking at numerous Board of Education meetings as a representative of my school. Being a class officer has made me a better communicator, leader, and adapter. Ultimately, I want to be a strong role model for other young women who may have been afraid to use their voices. Thus, I want to pursue a major in computer science. After coming back from the pandemic, I wasted no time in joining clubs, sports, and volunteering activities. In November 2022, I started to volunteer weekly at the Rochester General Hospital and since then, have been a part of various units to assist hospital staff with any non-medical tasks. The feeling of helping others in my community is comforting as I know I am making a positive impact on someone’s life which is the reason why I plan to continue giving back to my community at least once a week, no matter how busy life gets. I am determined to start a charity to target the issue regarding food security. With extreme weather conditions, contaminated water, and poverty, people around the world are unable to produce enough food to sustain a household, never mind a population. My goal is to target this issue by starting multiple community gardens in different places around the world and impart knowledge onto the people nearby while also donating to the locals. Therefore, the community can self-sustain and teach the generations after them well after the time has come for volunteers to leave the fostering community in order to teach another community in need. I plan to use my education in computer science to code programs to analyze the soil characteristics thus providing our team with real-time information to boost their crop yields, which can be further expanded to check the air quality as crop production losses can be alleviated by air quality improvements. In addition, we could take it a step further by using programming combined with science, to ensure that the products produced are perfectly ripe when picked, with no flaws nor pollutants and are full of nutrients. By doing so, computer science can help increase product yield and provide more nutrition thus leading to healthier people. Just like how a plant requires certain things to grow, humans require basic needs to survive, food, water, and shelter. By applying computer science to the issue of food security, I will ensure people globally all have one of the three basic human needs to survive, food. I want to ensure that no one experiences being hungry unwillingly. My core values, learner, leader, and community are fundamental to who I am and influence my world view.

Being involved in numerous extracurricular activities; including being a member and captain of the Girl’s Varsity team, president of Mastermind’s club (along with being the team captain for the varsity team), treasurer for class officers, and member of bowling and outdoor track, have made me a better communicator, leader, and adapter, all of which are vital skills. Since joining tennis after the pandemic, I have worked hard to improve my abilities. As a beginner, I always looked forward to my teammates and coach pointing out my mistakes and weakness and teaching me methods to overcome them. In addition, I seek help from resources online in order to improve my techniques. With their aid, along with my determination to progress, I have seen significant improvements in my performance and communication skills. Joining the Student DELL Helpdesk sophomore year at my school was at first on a whim. However, that whim has now turned into a passion. As I began to work towards my DELL Client Foundations Certificate in 2021, I found myself intrigued by the content and wanting to learn more. Through the Student Helpdesk, I applied to become an Information Technology Summer Intern for my school district. I was introduced to coding when I installed a program in Python on numerous student’s laptops. This piqued my interest in the coding aspect of the computer science field which led me to take a Computer Science Principles course at my school. I felt my interest in the field solidifying. During this past summer, I had the opportunity to further expand my passion by participating in a Girls Who Code Self Immersion Program and a Big Data for Big Policy Problems at Cornell. To close the gender gap, Girls Who Code host 6-8 weeks long program to teach women coding skills and apply their knowledge towards creating games in Replit. With that being said, as a member of the Girls Who Code Community along with being a student athlete, I look forward to fostering a supportive network dedicated to helping other girls and non-binary people discover and pursue their interests in the tech industry through participation in summit to share my knowledge in the field. Just like how I was supported greatly from the guidance and support of my teammates, coach and mentors, I aspire to pay it forward by encouraging other women by being a mentor to others and assisting them in their career growth. By sharing my knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned, I hope to inspire and empower others to reach their full potential and contribute to a more diverse and skilled workforce in society.

Being involved in numerous extracurricular activities, including being a member and captain of the Girl’s Varsity team, has made me a better communicator, leader, and adapter, all of which are vital skills. Since joining tennis after the pandemic, I have worked hard to improve my abilities. Despite losing many matches, I always looked forward to my teammates and coach pointing out my mistakes and weakness and teaching me methods to overcome them. In addition, I seek help from resources online in order to improve my techniques. With their aid, along with my determination to progress, I have seen significant improvements in my performance. With that being said, as a member of the Girls Who Code Alumni community, I look forward to fostering a supportive network dedicated to helping other girls and non-binary people discover and pursue their interests in the tech industry through participation in summit to share my knowledge in the field. Just like how I was supported greatly from the guidance and support of my teammates and coach, I aspire to pay it forward by encouraging other women by being a mentor to others and assisting them in their career growth. By sharing my knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned, I hope to inspire and empower others to reach their full potential and contribute to a more diverse and skilled workforce in society. As part of tennis, I have experienced playing singles and doubles. From singles, I have learned a sense of independence while from doubles I learned a sense of teamwork and have improved my communication skills. By working together well with any of my teammates, I have felt a stronger sense of team. No matter which matches my coach has assigned me, I know that I am responsible for the outcome of the match. This has shown me the importance of taking ownership of my actions. When I missed a shot, I analyze the reason behind it, whether it be my timing, my speed, or my swing, I know I will need to focus on not making that mistake the next time. If I was not able to reach the ball in time, I know that the next time, I will need to run faster the next time. There is a constant need for improvements in my skills. Additionally, it shows that I am aware of my shortcomings and highlights that I am ready to fix them and improve myself.

Taking a deep breath, my cursor was hovering over the submit button. In a swift take, I pressed “submit” and exhaled. I am not one for attention, however, I stepped out of my comfort zone at the beginning of 11th grade to run for class treasurer for the class of 2024. Since then, I have shown up to every meeting on time and have even set up meetings for the class officers to meet. As treasurer, I plan extensively fundraising events with my peers and advisors and execute them successfully. From these events, I learned that I enjoy planning things out to great details. Furthermore, I prioritize organization, punctuality, and efficiency. This showed me that I thrive in a fast-paced environment and can collaborate efficiently in a group whether as a member following my assigned roles or taking charge as a leader and distributing tasks for others to collectively carry out large feats. By working together well with others, we can accomplish more, and larger, accomplishments rather than if we were to individually. As part of class officers, I have networked with many individuals and organizations which opened many opportunities for me, such as speaking at numerous Board of Education meetings as a representative of my school. Being a class officer has made me a better communicator, leader, and adapter. Ultimately, I want to be a strong role model for other young women who may have been afraid to use their voices. Thus, I want to pursue a major in computer science with a minor in business administration. I look forward to continuing being a part of Girls Who Code alumni to foster a supportive community dedicated to helping others discover and pursue their interests in the tech industry. To be a software developer is my long-term career goal. I strongly believe pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science is a crucial step towards fulfilling my career aspiration. Over the course of years, I have taken part in several hackathons as well as coding programs and have since realized that computers are essential for many parts of our lives. I plan to be proficient in JavaScript, SQL, and Python whilst earning my computer science degree, thus taking the first steps to becoming a software developer. Well after earning my Bachelor of Science degree, I want to continue learning other programing languages as well as enhancing my current knowledge. I aim to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in the rapidly growing computer science industry. By continuously learning, I aim to bring new ideas to discussions and contribute to the company’s success. I am excited to keep working hard and staying dedicated to continuously striving for my career goals and aspirations.

Clink. Clank. Clang. The rhythmic echoing sounds of the steel chuan (spatula) and hoak (ladle) cooking the food in the wok by the chefs in the kitchen. The aromatic smell lingering in the air of the stuffy kitchen. That is the nostalgic memory of my childhood and continues to be the sound I hear everywhere. The fast-paced environment of the kitchen is still with me even when I am out of the restaurant as I’ve grown accustomed to hearing it. For as long as I can remember, the restaurant has been where I have spent the majority of my time. Every day after school, on weekends, and during the summer, I have helped at my parent’s restaurant since I was a young child, around 7 years old. I quickly picked up on the functioning well-oiled system that my parents run, starting with taking customer’s order, cooking food, packing orders, to being able to manage the system on my own as my parents step out to run errands. Growing up in this setting, I had to balance assisting at the restaurant, academic studies, extracurricular activities, sport commitment, and volunteering. This has taught me the value of responsibility, communication, time-management, and sacrifice. From this upbringing stemmed my strong work ethic as my parents have taught me the importance of education, making sure I excel in my academic studies. Due to my unwavering dedication, I have been able to get into the National Honor Society, maintain a perfect attendance streak, and retain a 4.0 GPA all while being involved in numerous extracurriculars activities and volunteering in the community. My intense desire to know, to absorb the vast knowledge surrounding me is what defines me. Growing up in the restaurant fueled my hunger for knowledge and pursuit of higher education. To be a software developer is my long-term career goal. I strongly believe pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science is a crucial step towards fulfilling my career aspiration. Over the course of years, I have taken part in several hackathons as well as coding programs and have since realized that computers are essential for many parts of our lives. I plan to be proficient in JavaScript, SQL, and Python whilst earning my computer science degree, thus taking the first steps to becoming a software developer. Well after earning my Bachelor of Science degree, I want to continue learning other programing languages as well as enhancing my current knowledge. I aim to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in the rapidly growing computer science industry. By continuously learning, I aim to bring new ideas to discussions and contribute to the company’s success. I am excited to keep working hard and staying dedicated to continuously striving for my career goals and aspirations. I believe my academic and career goals will motivate me in life to keep persisting and are worthy of consideration for the scholarship.

Joining the Student DELL Helpdesk at my school was at first on a whim. However, that whim has now turned into my career. I remembered being charmed in computer science, specifically hardware and coding, and wanted to further explore my interest. As I began to work towards my DELL Client Foundations Certificate in 2021, I found myself enjoying the content and wanting more knowledge in the Computer Science field. Since then, I have participated in several hackathons hosted by Women in Computing at Rochester Institute of Technology, coding programs (Big Data for Big Policy at Cornell and Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program during the summer), as well as computer related courses (Computer Science Principles and Digital Electronics) in high school to further develop my interest. I am excited to major in Computer Science next fall as a first-generation college student. Even though I am a low-income student, I still aim to pursue higher level education. To be a software developer is my long-term career goal. I strongly believe pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science is a crucial step towards fulfilling my career aspiration. Over the course of years, I have taken part in several hackathons as well as coding programs and have since realized that computers are essential for many parts of our lives. I plan to be proficient in JavaScript, SQL, and Python whilst earning my computer science degree, thus taking the first steps to becoming a software developer. Well after earning my Bachelor of Science degree, I want to continue learning other programing languages as well as enhancing my current knowledge. I aim to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in the rapidly growing computer science industry. By continuously learning, I aim to bring new ideas to discussions and contribute to the company’s success. I am excited to keep working hard and staying dedicated to continuously striving for my career goals and aspirations. Success for me is setting a goal with detailed steps to achieve that objective. I will need motivation, belief, and discipline to accomplish it. By setting a sight or purpose behind my goal, I will be motivated when I remind myself of the outcomes of attaining my goal. Anything is possible when you believe in yourself that you can fulfill something. Lack of discipline will cause you to deviate from your goals and hinder you from achieving your goal. Success is the fruition of time and continuous hard work.

Joining the Student DELL Helpdesk sophomore year at my school was at first on a whim. However, that whim has now turned into a passion. As I began to work towards my DELL Client Foundations Certificate in 2021, I found myself intrigued by the content, however, wanted to get a sense of what a career in the computer science field was like. Through the Student Helpdesk, I applied to become an Information Technology Summer Intern for the East Irondequoit Central School District. Over the summer, I was introduced to coding when I installed a program in Python on student’s laptops. This piqued my interest in the coding aspect of the computer science field which led me to take a Computer Science Principles course at my school. As I used Scratch to create a mini game and learned Python, I felt my interest in the field solidifying. During this past summer, I had the opportunity to further expand my passion by participating in a Girls Who Code Self Immersion Program, where I learned p5.js, a library in JavaScript to make interactive games. In addition, I participated in Big Data for Big Policy Problems at Cornell where I learned R-Studio, a library in R, to produce graphics using data collected to then interpret and draw conclusions. To be a software developer is my long-term career goal. I strongly believe pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science is a crucial step towards fulfilling my career aspiration. Over the course of years, I have taken part in several hackathons (sponsored by Rochester Institute of Technology Women in Computing) as well as coding programs (Girls Who Code, Cornell’s Big Data for Big Policy Problems Course, Computer Science Principles class, and Digital Electronics class) and have since realized that computers are essential for many parts of our lives. I plan to be proficient in JavaScript, SQL, and Python whilst earning my computer science degree, thus taking the first steps to becoming a software developer. Well after earning my Bachelor of Science degree, I want to continue learning other programing languages as well as enhancing my current knowledge. I aim to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in the rapidly growing computer science industry. By continuously learning, I aim to bring new ideas to discussions and contribute to the company’s success. I am excited to keep working hard and staying dedicated to continuously striving for my career goals and aspirations. My experience in computer science has made me a student eager for knowledge and active participant in creating an inclusive community – one where I can empower other women to be interested in the technology field and creating immersive service experiences across the city. I am excited to participate in Women in Computing and Public Service Corps as I will ultimately learn more about my own major while fostering meaningful friendships and aiding my community. I look forward to being a part of change makers and life-learners. I believe that with life pursuit of knowledge, we can contribute to a group and foster new ideas.

My name is Sandy Chi. In Chinese, it is chí xīn tíng, last name is put before the first name. Xīn means wealth and prosperity, and tíng, means beautiful and graceful. I am the eldest child of Chinese immigrants who have both completed only grade school back home in China. This makes me a first-generation student, a fact both nerve-wracking and exciting. I plan to pursue a major in computer science with a minor in either accounting or data analytics. Ever since I was a child, my favorite subject has been math. I’m not sure how I started developing an interest in computer programming, but it started when I joined the Student Helpdesk in 10th grade which then led me to take a Computer Science Principles course in 11th grade. I was hooked on coding! Over the summer, I had the opportunity to expand my passion for the coding field by participating in a Girls Who Code Self Immersion Program, where I learned p5.js, a library in JavaScript to make an interactive avatar, choose your own adventure game, and collection style game. In addition, I participated in a Big Data for Big Policy Problems at Cornell where I learned R-Studio, a library in R, to produce graphics regarding data collected which we are then able to interpret. A bonus is that there are many openings for the fields I plan to major in, with a high growth rate, and paying 6 figures! I plan to use my money wisely, not overspending it or going on frequent shopping sprees, but instead, take only a small portion of my income for myself and give the rest to my parents so that they can retire early and live comfortably. I would also use my money to help my brother pay for his higher-level education as I know he has a bright future ahead of him with his vast intelligence. Most of my money, however, will be donated to organizations that align with my interests, such as World Vision and Save the Children. Both are dedicated to keeping children safe, healthy and educated. I have grown up in a household that prioritizes education as it is a way to improve your life for the better. I want others to have the same opportunity to improve their life by being educated. Since I was approximately 9, I have helped at my family’s restaurant. I started off taking orders, then calculating the prices, handling the bill, taking phone calls, and cooking in the back, and can now run the restaurant solely while both of my parents are out running errands, delivering orders, or taking a nap. My upbringing has allowed me to have a strong work ethic, allowing me to prosper in school, understand the importance of responsibility, and the ability to balance the numerous tasks and activities I have going on. I am a hardworking student as evidenced by the numerous rigorous classes I have taken throughout high school. I am involved in numerous extracurricular activities, such as being a treasurer of Class Officers, volunteering at the Rochester General Hospital, being involved in clubs, such as Masterminds and Envirothon, and sports, including Varsity Tennis and Varsity Outdoor Track. As Deborah Roberts mentioned before, “Aim high, work hard, and love your family.” I think this quote fully aligns with my values and mindset. I have goals for myself and work hard to accomplish these set goals. I am very thankful to my family and feel great pride in being a part of the Chi family.

Volunteering has opened my mind to the most dedicated hard-working people firsthand with my own eyes. All the nurses and doctors at the Rochester General Hospital continuously work hard to care for the patients round the clock. I have seen it first personally in the different departments I have been assigned to and can say that they prioritize safety and care for patients. I have been to the cardiology, orthopedic, and radiology department where I met various staff who are a bundle of energy, always moving around, and doing something for their patients. This has inspired me to work hard to care for the patients in my department as I could not fall behind and drag the team. As soon as I arrive at 3:55 for my 4:00 PM shift, I make my rounds to see if there are any tasks that I need to take care of immediately. Then, I stack the cart up with essentials such as gloves and cups of water and make my way around the ward to refill the gloves and ask patients if they need anything. As they request juices, crackers, and sodas, I attentively retrieve the items from the kitchen and hand them to the patients. If they start speaking, I stand next to them and maintain a conversation as I know that in the hospital, they don’t have many people to talk to. As social beings, we facilitate many conversations with others to thrive. Since I have volunteered at the hospital, I have looked forward to my session, rushing toward my department with a smile on my face and determination to accomplish bringing smiles to others. It fills me with a sense of ebullience as I serve others and meet their needs. I plan to continue volunteering at the hospital again during the school year as I genuinely enjoy the feeling of glee it gives me every time. This experience has shifted my mindset from thinking "everything is about me" to "everyone is not about me" as volunteering broaden my horizon to others. I have learned to look at the bigger picture instead of the small, in-the-moment, picture, and see the effects of my actions on others. I need this scholarship as my family is low-income. I have done the calculations online to see my expected pell grant and family contributions. While I do know my parents would aid me with college in any way possible, it is said that my family contribution is $0. I yearn to release the burden off their shoulders by looking for scholarships so that I can pursue higher education in Computer Science, with a minor in Business, as a minority and first-generation student without worries.

Choosing a single song out of one of my top favorite albums by one of my top favorite artists is harder than I expected. But as I flip through all the songs of the 1989 album, I am compelled to replay one song in particular. Walkin' through a crowd, the village is aglow… Walking down the busy streets at every corner of New York City is truly a thrilling experience. Everyone is preoccupied with their thoughts and problems that they pay you no mind, giving you a sense of freedom to be who you are. As I’m walking, I heard enchanting echoes singing a sound we haven’t before saying Welcome to New York, it’s been waitin’ for you… New York is truly one of the most attractive states, attracting various sorts of people from different ethnic groups, religions, and beliefs. There is something unfathomable about New York, and even after living here for my whole life, I can’t imagine living in another state. Even as I visit other metropolises such as Philadelphia and Toronto, I can not help but feel like it’s nothing compared to the Big Apple. It's a new soundtrack, I could dance to this beat, beat forevermore… The beat gives off an upbeat vibe, perfect for traveling or to cheer up on a sad day. One listen to Welcome to New York by Taylor Swift will swell giddiness over many memories of being in New York City, washing away all my gloominess. It is in my liked songs on Spotify and all the songs playlist I created on YouTube: Lyrics to Belt to, Song to Listen To, and All Time Faves. The lights are so bright, but they never blind me… As I look upward at the skyscrapers, buildings, sculptures, and people, I am mesmerized by the ethereal beauty surrounding me. I can hear my heart beating loudly as I gaze. Even though others look away after a glance, I am left in awe-struck, staring at these lights till I am pulled away. And you can want who you want… As The City That Nevers Sleeps is comprised of various people from different backgrounds, it truly makes for a judgment-free area as chances are out of the 8 million living there, there is another human being who is going through the same troubles that you are facing. A wave of ease washes over you as you know you are not alone in this Empire City. Welcome to New York Welcome to New York

A technology that inspires me to believe that technology can make the world a better place is one of the most common one, a cellphone. I know cellphones have a bad connotation to them as they are seen as a threat to the younger generations who are spending more time than ever, on social medias scrolling endless hours through their feeds, liking, commenting, and sharing videos as well as reading malicious content which harms one’s self esteem. However, cellphone allows us to connect to people from all around the globe. Take me for example. My parents, originally from China, immigrated to the United States before I was even born, looking for new opportunities in this land of the free. My grandparents, however, are still in China living their everyday life in a small rural town. I have not seen my grandparents ever since I was a little baby, while my brother has not visited our ancestor’s home country during his whole 14 years of existence, and my parents haven’t gone back ever since they settled in the States. With the invention of cell phone and especially WeChat –a messaging app common among Chinese, similar to WhatsApp—I am able to stay in touch with my grandparents and have a conversation with them. Although I have no recollection of seeing them face-to-face, I do know what they look like, the sound of their voice, and my parent’s hometown through our monthly videocalls. On top of that, I want to make them proud by going to college and landing a successful job so I can support both my grandparents and parents. The invention of mobile devices motivates me to work hard as I am reminded of why I put in immense effort in maintaining a 4.0 GPA, taking all advanced courses through my years in high school, doing volunteer work, busying my summer, and striving for college. In addition to that, a cellular device can connect us to our relatives overseas, medical emergency with a click of a button, and news from all over the world in a matter of an instant.