Until fifth grade, I honestly had no friends. Most people I know can say that they have known someone on their block or a family friend since they were born. Since my parents came from the Philippines and didn’t know anyone in Oak Forest when they moved, I grew up isolated from others. My family was different and I knew it. I was raised differently from the American norm. There seemed to be little that I could relate to...

I realized in the beginning of my high school career that I wanted to create something that lasted far beyond my lifetime. I wanted to discover or invent a new material or machine that could change the world. One great way to do this was to pursue a career in engineering, which eventually led me to the University Of Michigan College Of Engineering. While visiting colleges all over the country to find my fit, I attended Tech Day at University...

I was sitting in a friend’s front lawn when I first overheard someone say that there should be a ping pong tournament at our high school. Although I am not an experienced player of any sort, I do love to play ping pong every now and then. I began to jokingly discuss the possibility of a ping pong tournament in Oak Forest with a couple of my friends. At first I did not think it would actually happen, but...

I had two of my high school English teachers look over my essays before I submitted them. I prioritized the time and effort on essays for my top schools. I started early on all of my essays and tried to come up with different personalized ideas and stories. The variety of experiences I had while visiting multiple colleges around the country allowed me to realize what was actually different about each school I applied to. I tried to focus on...

I first decided what I generally wanted to study. I quickly realized that I wanted a good engineering school. I researched the different kinds of engineering that were available. Then, I found the "top" schools with programs in that field. I say that in quotes because you can't always trust...

I joined a group that reflected my medical interest, Global Brigades, which allowed me to travel to the Honduras for two weeks in May to help out with a medical brigade and a public health brigade. Throughout the school year, prior to the trip, I was educated on the culture of the Honduras and the status of medical services and sanitation in the local area where I would be working. This organization encourages the community to participate in their own care to prevent abuse of resources and encourage sustainability of a higher standard of living. Dance Marathon is a student...

After college, I plan to get my master's degree in biomedical engineering in one year after my undergrad through a program...

Ann Arbor is the cutest town with lively and nice people everywhere. There are pretty much always things going on, and the school spirit is everywhere. You don't feel like you're in the middle of nowhere like other schools; you're surrounded by a city with a lot to offer. There's Downtown Ann Arbor, Main Street, Kerrytown, and South U bars and restaurants. It's in the midwest, so I get to experience all four seasons, and the campus is...