ACHIEVEMENTS | kevin-index

How Kevin achieved academic success

The following essay was written by Kevin. In his own words, he described how he strive to excel for academic success:

" I excel in the math and science fields such as calculus, physics, chemistry, and computer science because I have learned to do a comprehensive study and to start from the basics. Also, I have the tenacity to never stop until I understand , and I also love to figure out problem by myself and rarely ask for assistance.

In math and science, everything tends to build on itself. For example, people need a good algebra foundation in order to differentiate and integrate property. Also, good math skills are needed for physics. And for this reason, I like to do a comprehensive study, meaning I start from the beginning for the course and work my back to my current place, making sure I understand how everything connects. For instance, throughout the class, I like to study the things I learned from the first day of class or even from last year's class and study until I learn the things we are currently learning. In this way, I have no problem studying for a cumulative exam because I been reviewing throughout the course.

I am never ashamed to start from the basics. For example, if I were to study hydroboronation in organic chemistry, I would start from the beginning with electronegativity, hybridization, and shape of a molecule that I learned in the previous chemistry class to understand the chemical mechanism. I try not to memorize anything but only understand the concept and why everything works as I get more advanced and more in-depth in my study. I have seen countless times when people forget the basics such as algebra skills that if you do one thing on one side, you must do the same for the other side, or dividing two fractions, or finding the greatest common factor. Or, most elements want an octet or eight electrons to be stable. Some people forget about the basics, but a good foundation leads to a greater understanding for the more advanced concepts. This is why I excel in the math and sciences.

My tenacity to understand attributes to my success in the math and science fields. I strive to understand all concepts and not memorize. I have memorize certain facts and equation and completely forgot them on the test or the test had a slight variation and I could not solve the problem because I memorize only one way. I believe that understanding concepts and how an equation works are the best to learn because I can use the logic and concepts to solve any problem and not be stuck with one way to solve one problem.

Discovering and proving are the great things about math and science, but although someone has already proved an equation or discovered an efficient way to organize numbers in a Java-based computed program, I love to figure them out for myself. I believe figuring out problems without any assistance is imperative to any education. It prepares people for a test-like situation and the real world. Scientists cannot ask their lab partners the cure for HIV/AIDS. Nonetheless, I help others if they cannot understand, but I help so that I am not instructing but provoking their minds to think, discover, and prove for themselves.

The subjects I excel in are the math and science classes. I love to think, prove, and discover. I study from the basics and in a test-like and real world perspective, and my tenacity to understand is unyielding".

Dealing and solving difficulties...

" I believe that I had difficulty with English because I come from a Filipino family that did not emphasize much reading. If I had more exposure to more books, I believe I would not have an English problem. For example, I did not read Lord of the Rings or finish Harry Potter. To solve this problem, I took advanced English Literature and Composition such as AP English Language and Composition, and I currently take AP English and Literature and Composition, and I always review my English basics. Through rigorous English courses, I have improved my knowledge in analyzing and understanding people's work in syntax and rhetoric; however, I still lack in my own writing abilities.

Although I have been taking advanced English classes, to deal with my difficulty, I never forget my basic grammar. I always read the news online such as the New York Times or the Christian Science Monitor to have an example of professional writing. While I read these articles, I tend to analyze the syntax or grammar and point out the adverbial clauses, noun clauses, compound-complex sentences, and other grammar techniques. I always practice the basics to improve my English.

Practicing my grammar has improved my understanding of syntax and its effectiveness. I can analyze an author's work and talk about the syntax easily. I now have a better understanding of what the author is trying to convey.

Sense of intellectual vitality..

My computer science classes, AP Computer Science A and CSE 143 at the University of Washington, were intellectually engaging because every program requires a great deal of thought, logic, and work, and when I am finished and it works, I feel successful and ready to solve the next problem.

I had difficulty time understanding a concept called recursion, where the function is using itself repeatedly until the program stops itself. The hardest part is to write the code so that the program stops the recursion properly. I spent several hours into the night trying to fix the infinite recursion by rewriting code, drawing diagrams, and thinking. Tired and frustrated, I went to sleep one night, and when I woke up, I looked at it again. I had an epiphany, and I finally fixed the problem; it was simple. These moments in computer science make the experience intellectually engaging.

I am ecstatic to see my creation work. My favorite program, GrammarSolver, was where I had to generate grammatically correct sentences from a list of words. I had to use multiple data structures to organize every word by part of speech. Furthermore, I

had to use recursion and go through each structure picking a word randomly. The complexity of the program was daunting but achievable. I drew diagrams, and I slept a few night on it, and I solved it. Now with each solved problem, I feel ready for another complex puzzle.

Building relations and sharing knowledge...

In the summer of my junior year, I attended school at University of California, Berkeley with a hunger for knowledge and thirst for challenge and from my stay in Berkeley, I will not forget my roommates in the dormitory.

I lived with international students from Korea and China. This was my first encounter with people out of the nation and for two months I was living with strangers from different countries with a language and culture barrier between the three of us. We could not understand each other at first, but all I knew was that they wanted to learn as much as I did. As time passed, we started talking more and we became good friends; we traveled to San Francisco and other places and learned much from each other in culture and language. I remember we would talk long into the night about our experiences in Berkeley and their college experiences in their home country. My roommates were brilliant. They taught me about their culture and I taught them ours, and although we had this barrier, we still shared knowledge. What I gained was an expansion of intellectual curiosity and a desire to share knowledge with everyone.

I realized that half my skill was learning and the other half was sharing knowledge and helping others. Additionally, I have learned to build relations with people from outside America.

Volunteer and contribute to community...

I volunteer on Saturdays at the Harrison Medical Center's birthing center in a variety of ways. Volunteers help pregnant women get to their rooms safely and calmly. They help assuage any stressing situation. I help direct people if they are lost in the medical center. Also, volunteers help security regulate who gets to see the patients. Harrison has a strict privacy rule that all personnel must follow. Volunteers run labs, meaning that they deliver samples - blood, urine, etc - to the laboratory. Volunteers are not limited to their assigned duty, but they are encouraged to volunteer in other Harrison Hospital events such as the Festival of Trees. The job is exciting and fulfilling.

I was inspired to do this because I am able to help others. Whether it is from the classroom or church or Harrison. I believe that people who have the strength and will should help others that do not.

I have put in over one hundred hours of service towards Harrison Hospital, and I have been with them for almost two years now. I come in with eagerness and love. I am friendly to all people who come in, and I help those who seek aid. The fervor I bring is appreciated by the staff and the patients.

I have impacted others by my hospitality at Harrison. I always try to make the patients' stay the most comfortable possible while having the security. I protect the patients from unwanted visitors because some pregnant women do not want certain people to visit. I help security protect babies from being stolen.

I have gained maturity and respect from volunteering at Harrison Hospital. I understand the pain that women go through in their pregnancy, and I respect their love for their children. I have dealt with unreasonable people, and I can react with patients and care to suppress the situation. I have grown to love meeting people and talking to people.