3.
In a commencement address at Stanford University, Steve Jobs described his journey through life to be, not a clear straight path to success, but a chaotic adventure of unpredictable turns. However, after “connecting the dots” of countless unexpected events, he eventually realized a pattern. By following the light of passion on the path ahead, he walked upon the answer to his role as a piece in the puzzle of the world – technological entrepreneurship.
I respect the CEO and Chairman of Apple to be a man of inner truth. He didn’t care about what other people claimed was “the common norm” or “the right way”. As pioneer of the modern car, American industrialist Henry Ford said, “If I had asked other people what to do, they would’ve told me to make faster horses.” Jobs was a changemaker and revolutionary. He followed what he truly loved deep down, and persevered with integrity to his beliefs of complete dedication to scientific innovation, the sacrifice of the self to serve society’s needs and humanity’s benefit.
Throughout these past years, I blindly wallowed through the darkness of murky ripples, without a goal. And I didn’t need a direction, because the human heart was the most accurate compass to happiness and well-being ever invented.
Looking down at the clear waters below me right now and reflecting upon the most precious personal memories that illuminated my present self, I realized that like Steve Jobs, I am a technological entrepreneur. Whether it was human intuition or supernatural fate, I do not know, but the fact remains – as should be evident in the following two lists of awards and extracurriculars – that some omnipotent force has driven me to participate in scientific and leadership-oriented activities various in nature but all tending toward a singularity in the far distance.
Awards and Achievements
1. United States of America Computing Olympiad (USACO), Open Contest 2012
Gold Division, 1st Place in Canada
2. Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), 2013
3rd Place Grand Award (Computer Science); IEEE Computer Society (Third Award)
3. Loran Scholarship for Leadership, Service, and Community
Provincial Award
4. Canada Wide Virtual Science Fair, 2012
1st Place National Award (Summa Cum Laude Award), Transport Canada Special Award
5. DWITE Programming Competition, 2011-2012
National Champion among 3914 competitors
6. Canadian Senior Mathematics Contest, 2011
National Top 6-30 (Group 2), National Champion Team
7. Waterloo Hypatia Math Contest, 2012
National Gold Standard
Extracurricular Activities
Team Leader, Tour Guide, Volunteer Committee, Youth Representative, Media Translator
at Ottawa Chinese Community Service Center (OCCSC)
With the intent of teaching basic computer skills to seniors, I became a volunteer instructor at the Ottawa Chinese Community Center since 2009. Since, I have taught computer usage skills to immigrant Chinese seniors, in addition to speaking, planning, organizing, and executing events for volunteers and guests.
Student Senator
at Lisgar Collegiate Institute
As elected representative of my school to represent Lisgar at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, I have discussed and contributed in discussions about socio-political issues affecting students across the board.
Co-Head
at Lisgar Computer Club
In ninth grade, I realized many students had already mastered the content taught in our computer science classes and needed hands-on enrichment. I thus created our three main departments of Contest Training, Network and Security, and Game Design. As a cooperative and self-nurturing community, we have taught programming languages and university-level algorithms to Lisgar students for over two years. We have led Lisgar to achieve numerous honours and awards in provincial and national-level programming competitions.
Founder and Co-head
at Lisgar Happiness Association
We founded the club to enlighten students on positive psychology, help relieve stress, teach self-management through cathartic activities, and draw out composure and esteem in achieving self-actualization by the highest level in Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Our annual lectures include goal-setting, motivation, emotional intelligence, and leadership.
Essay (Part II)
High school graduation may be the end of four years, but for many students, it is also the beginning of much more. I hope to continue this journey with the support of comefromchina.com, the most valuable and important network for Chinese people in our region. As one of the most prestigious fellowships in our community, the CFC Scholarship grants students the honour and endowment to represent local society as ambassador and role model to younger students. I wish to help you in our common vision for the betterment of present well-being and future education.