If you’ve read my “about me” page, you can probably guess that I am very open to and greatly enjoy trying new things. Did you know there’s an official term for this? Neophilia! Whenever I see a new activity that seems remotely cool, I often want to at least try it out. As a result, I have tried many sports and instruments (meaning I’ve taken lessons outside of school for them), such as basketball, figure skating, tennis, skiing, even surfing, and I have recently begun weight-lifting. Additionally, I have tried playing violin and piano, and would love to rekindle my musical skills (potentially with drums) in the near future. I also love crafting; I always have a plethora of string and yarn for my embroidering, friendship-bracelet making, and crocheting desires. Although I have gained experience in a lot of different fields, I have outlined my most notable achievements below:
This past winter, I was able to assist in Professor Michael Lodato’s Lab at UMASS Chan Medical School by further analyzing data they had previously retrieved regarding specific genes that had increased or decreased in expression amongst the elderly. I provided additional insight by gathering information about the genes from different databases and highlighting patterns that emerged based on their characteristics. Specifically, I utilized two databases, the Cancer Dependency Map (DepMap) and Protein Atlas, to identify if the up- and down-regulated genes affected cell survival, and if they had a positive impact, in which type(s) of cells throughout the body they were most expressed in. Through the data mining process, I was able to discover the pattern that none of the up-regulated genes had a significant impact on cell survival; furthermore, the genes that did affect cell survival all had a positive impact, and were all part of the down-regulated genes. In other words, the genes that were essential for gene survival were all part of the set of down-regulated genes in the elderly. This was fascinating, as cells tend to increase the expression of genes that support cell survival when diseased, but this did not happen for the elderly brains. This finding could help to explain the brain’s decline as it ages, especially about the specific processes that lead to the degeneration. I am so grateful for this opportunity, as it not only allowed me to experience the fulfillment of making a scientific discovery, at least on a small scale, but it also gave me a taste of what it’s like working and communicating with other members in the lab. To learn more about my project methods and findings, check out the video below!
My faith is a significant motivation for me and the main definition of who I am and why I do what I do. Although I have grown up in the church, I felt a new sense of revival during the pandemic, and have been trying harder everyday to radiate the love and grace that I was saved by. I always loved helping out with childcare before and after the children’s services, and during the past few years, I have sought out more and more opportunities to give back to my church community. I recently became one of the praise leaders for our youth group praise team. Additionally, as one of the oldest members of our youth group now, I have also stepped up to be a part of the student leadership committee, where we plan games and outings for fellowship. It has been a very eye-opening learning process, but it is also incredibly rewarding to see more and more people join in for worship and bond over the events we planned. Finally, this past summer, I was a volunteer for two Vacation Bible School camps, where I was a crew leader for pre-K and Kindergarten students as well as the praise coordinator, for which I choreographed worship dances and demonstrated them in front of the students. By helping younger students navigate their own faith, I feel like I have grown so much spiritually as well, and I hope I can continue encouraging others closer to Him through my service.
I have been attending the Korean School of New England in Newton since I was three. At first, especially during my early Elementary years, my mom had to struggle trying to get me out of bed and to school every Saturday morning, but I began to appreciate it much more after returning to in-person sessions after COVID. I finally graduated this past spring in 2023 after 13 years. It was quite bittersweet, but also very memorable and fulfilling to be congratulated for all our efforts and be given the opportunity to stand in front of and motivate the younger students to continue their passion for learning about their language, culture, and most importantly, identity. During our final year, we were given the responsibility of being teacher’s assistants in the lower level classes, and it was especially rewarding to see the kids I had helped out before wave to me from the audience. I also participated in many school-wide and national competitions. This past year, I was awarded the Grand Prize in our school’s Translating Poems and Recitation Contest, and I was part of the National Association for Korean Schools’ (NAKS) 17th My Dream Speech National Finals, where I was awarded Gold Prize. I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to learn more about my culture and connect with a community with a similar identity, as they have not only helped me to communicate better with my relatives and make me a more dedicated representative for my country, but they have also helped me to feel more seen and heard as Korean-American in our society. In the future, I hope to be able to assist in bridging the gap between the two countries that I view as my home, and also motivate others to pursue learning about their own unique culture.
During my time at Shrewsbury High School, I participated in multiple school clubs. My most notable experiences were at the SHS Psychology and Neuroscience Club and Varsity Math Team. My interest in the brain and behavioral studies in the brain led me to join the SHS Psych club my freshman year, and the intriguing concepts I learned through the meetings led me to take up the position of secretary my sophomore year. Additionally, I decided to try and apply my math skills in a more competitive way by joining our school’s varsity math team. The experience challenged my current understanding of the subject and encouraged me to utilize and build off of strategies I had learned previously through math classes in and out of school (at Russian School of Mathematics). The actual meets were a bit nerve wracking, but the adrenaline rush I felt while competing was so memorable that I decided to continue participating even at MAMS. I also recently joined the Biotechnology Club at MAMS! Finally, in addition to the volunteer activities I mentioned above, I also helped out at my town’s public library and a 3rd grade class in one of my town’s elementary schools. I loved being able to give back to my community, and it was very rewarding to see my effects be directly helpful to the other members in my town.
Additionally, I was given many opportunities through Mass Academy where I could give back to my community by sharing the joy of STEM with the younger generation! First, over the October break, my friends and I worked together to teach STEM lessons about adaptations through various models of bird beaks, as well as kinetic and potential energy by designing and racing spool racers at Abby Kelley Charter Public School. It was so heartening to witness the exploration and excitement of the students, and it also taught me how to be more patient and engaging when working with younger students. Furthermore, I also volunteered for a STEM Saturday session at the Worcester Public Library where I managed one of the stations that the attendees could interact with. This experience helped me to become more adaptive for students of different ages, and again, it was very rewarding to see the children being in awe of the science.
