Undergraduate / Extracurriculars and intense studies - Stanford Prompt (about something that is meaningful) [2]

Tell us about something that is meaningful to you and why

"Ma, if I became like Albert Einstein, would you be proud of me?" My ten-year-old self asked. From my parents' seemingly strict expectations of good grades and extracurriculars, I thought I would hear a simple yes from my mom, but instead, I heard the complete opposite:

"Einstein might have been a genius, but a peaceful home life was something he never seemed to achieve. If it means that you have an unhappy family in the future, then no: I don't want you to be Einstein."

In high school, I immersed myself in various extracurriculars and intense studies. I won't lie, succeeding was joyful to relish in, but it was lonely. I often skipped family dinners and car drives, constantly hopping onto the next assignment. It wasn't sustainable, and I realized that academics couldn't be my only life. Yes, maybe I could have spent the extra hour perfecting my English essay, but instead, I decided to support my little sister at her volleyball game (I didn't realize how good she was!). Maybe I could've spent lunch break refining resolutions for my international Model UN conference, but then I would've missed out on the amazing friends I made worldwide. At Stanford, I will undoubtedly strive to prosper in my classes and contribute to the campus culture through my interdisciplinary interests. But like my mom said: it will only be done by me being my name, the girl who now remembers to cherish her familial and friendship joys.

Undergraduate / WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU? WHY? (UBC but can be used in other university/scholarship applications) [2]

WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU? WHY?

"The only source of knowledge is experience." This quote from Albert Einstein sums up my philosophy of learning as a student, which has been so important to me as it has shaped my confidence as a knower. COVID-19 virtual school wasn't stimulating my mind like in real life, and it made me realize I had to continue my education beyond the four walls of school. Education could no longer be defined as homework sheets and tests for me; but rather the drive for learning from my initiative. I pursued higher academic interests not taught at my school, such as computer science and took a neuroscience internship at the University of Toronto.

Despite the apprehension of my initial limited knowledge, I continued building my repertoire of experiences, which helped expand my insight. It was not always the academic material from which I obtained the most knowledge, but rather the courage I gained for asking questions and seeking answers to complex queries. I remember after my first year, I took over the robotics club after all members of the club graduated. I felt extremely unprepared to lead the club with my experience but I wanted to take it as an opportunity to learn. Eventually, we got into the top ten teams of our tournament- completely unheard of for our rural school. Before, I feared failure from seeking new knowledge. However, I realized that while it seems peculiar to be proud of "failure," it enabled me to take risks, embrace all results, and live a life unfettered from doubts.