essays that got me ❤️ into Stanford

essays that got me ❤️ into Stanford What is the most significant challenge that society faces today?* Skyrocketing deportation rates among war-impacted Southeast Asians and the War on Drugs’ lasting inequalities in neighborhoods of color demonstrate society’s long-standing practice locking away, rather than restoring and resourcing, communities impacted by trauma. I aspire to be a “movement-lawyer,” advocating in socioeconomically-disadvantaged ethnic communities from Oakland to Long Beach to the boroughs of NYC. How did you spend your last two summers?* 2023: Sixteen shopping missions—hauling Crayola-brimmed carts, garage-sorting for weeks while binging Netflix’s Beef, leading Supplies for Solidarity distributing to Sacramento’s underserved. 2024: Conversed with Congressman Jamaal Bowman on people-centered politics, collaborated with U.S. Treasury Department’s executives improving accessibility for immigrant/ethnic enclaves—my California home connecting to progress in DC. What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?* Amidst the Chinese Civil War, my grandmother from my dad’s side still singlehandedly-planned her village’s weddings and baby-showers. I want to ask her “What does it mean to live, not just survive, as a woman in a world of crises?”—learning vibrant stories of my matriline despite backdrops of struggle. Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities, a job you hold, or responsibilities you have for your family.* Seeing intergenerationality between AAPI youth and elders grappling discrimination, cultural-linguistic inaccessibility, and generational-trauma, I consulted the Asian-American Liberation Network to open actionable avenues for youth leadership—becoming their earliest Youth Advisor. Directing AALN’s first youth-led “people-power circles” and civic workshops, I unite activist agendas of Asian-Americans from Gen X to Z. List five things that are important to you.* Internet archives of late-20th-century subversive zine clippings; my mom’s old clothes from the 2000s she lends me like old stories; equitable allocations of my city budget; agency to trailblaze and reimagine; Ocean Vuong’s poems and Joan Didion’s prose that churn my stomach, open my mind, make me feel not alone. Virtually all of Stanford’s undergraduates live on campus. Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate – and us – get to know you better.* Dear Roomie, I can’t wait to meet you—Here are some things about me! • I hardly ever eat my meals without fish sauce. Pungent, savory, versatile—My favorite condiment, nuoc mam, is the unifying piece to the Southeast Asian recipes characterizing Little Saigon’s community functions from pad thai to bun cha (grilled barbeque). I hope to exchange our home cuisines as we gather to tell our cultural-familial stories. • Share with me your top playlist, and I’ll listen to it track-by-track. My AP Government teacher once told me, “Music is one of the best primary sources.” DJ-ing from AUX at West-Coast social justice convenings allowed me to explore Hip-Hop’s historical and political messagings born from African-American struggle, such as Kendrick Lamar’s lyricism in To Pimp A Butterfly. I’m always eager to ponder the social implications of songs and films we enjoy together, using creativity to inspire change. • Since the pandemic, I’ve been collecting mementos to fill my bedroom wall: Rap album covers and doodled-on CDs, printed quotes of Angela Davis and Grace Lee Boggs, cut-and-pasted cardboard packaging with intricate vintage designs. As my mosaic of lived experience and mixed-media collection of hope, this mural is never-ending. At Stanford, I want to start a new mural together in our dorm, bringing the symbols of our beautiful humanity into a piece of art, collaboration, and constant transformation. • Expect to meet MoMo (inspired by MaoMao, Mandarin for kitty-cat), my calico cat plushie and forever bestie. Endlessly curious to learn your story, Celine