1.What topic in science or math do you currently find most interesting and why? When and how did you become aware of this topic? How have you explored it since? (150 words or fewer)
Although I do enjoy every branch of science and math, I'm particularly interested in quantum physics.
It was in the late afternoon of April 20, 2013, I came across the article "Experimental Observation of the Quantum Anomalous Hall Effect in a Magnetic Topological Insulator" while reading the Science Magazine as usual. At that time, I was frustrated by the progress of Earth Allies, the project I initiated regarding promoting sustainability in my high school then. The article was a spark, kindling my mind to realize that science could be a more efficient way to sustainability aside from education and propaganda. As soon as I finished reading, my dream was specified from helping the world achieve sustainability to achieving sustainability through science and technology.
Since then, I desperately delved into quantum physics. From its history to the latest relevant discover in the frontier of physics, I read all the materials I could find and took five related online courses. What's more, after three times of rejection, I received an internship at Nanjing University and did several experiments on "Electronic structure and transport measurements of amorphous transition-metal oxides: observation of Fermi glass behavior" with Prof. Miao.
2.We know you lead a busy life, full of activities, many of which are required of you. Tell us about something you choose to do for enjoyment or relaxation. (150 words or fewer)
The clouds are giant cotton balls, and cannot contain the brilliant sunlight that has penetrated my skin for the past ten days. So deep it went, heating my eyeballs, causing perspiration to leech from my armpits, flaking my skin so that I can no longer tell if it is dust or dead cells coating the insides of my long underwear and fleece pants. I look around and can see the Gila Wilderness with snow-capped peaks to the East. I picture the barbed-wire and wooden-staked fence that is the marker of the Arizona-New Mexico state border to the West.
From scorpions and coyotes, bear-hangs to river crossings, wilderness opens up a world that is always there but seldom paid full attention to. It should not be seen as a getaway, an escape, but rather a way of life to follow and incorporate into the very atoms of the threads that make up a life. For only by braiding these long, blonde Scandinavian locks can I realize that life isn't meant to be stressed, acknowledged, felt.
Sometimes all you need is a bit of the Blue Range to call home for a few chilly October nights to remind you of that.
(XXXXXX Wilderness Program: backpacking expeditions into the wilderness)
3.Describe the world you come from; for example, your family, school, community, city, or town. How has that world shaped your dreams and aspirations? (150 words or fewer)
As a school in the New Mexico desert focusing on sustainable life, XXXXXX provides me the opportunity to delve into sustainability through real-life practice.
As a volunteer at XXXXXX Agroecology Research Center, I learned skills and techniques needed to practice sustainable agriculture in an arid environment, discovering meaningful applications of my knowledge in math, science, and economics. By practicing gardening, carpentry, cooking, composting, rainwater catchment, and land management in the farm with students from all over the world, I am stimulated to perceive as well as think about new and different ways to approach problems such as pest management, habitat conservation, and waste management.
My dream is to help the world achieve sustainability through science and technology. The first-hand on-field experience in sustainability at XXXXXX makes me understand that implementation of sustainable technology is far more complicated than I anticipated - to fulfill my dream, I need to excel not only in scientific research, but also in real-life skills. Every second at XXXXXX makes me clearer about what to do on the way to my dream.
4.What do you hope to gain from attending SSP? (150 words or fewer)
Back home, it seems that people do everything for a profitable purpose. However, after seven months' stargazing on NM's starry nights, I learned that sometimes we can do something just out of interest. By attending SSP, I could take the college-level courses in astronomy, science, math and programming, gaining the pure excitement and satisfaction of fulfilling my interest in topics I'm curious about.
Besides, I do enjoy the math and science subjects I take at school, but I have very few opportunities to apply what I have learned in class. By attending SSP, I hope I could make the most use of my knowledge to solve problems in the real world, thus gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the meaning of science, as well as a more panoptic way to approach science.
What's more, I am always grateful for meeting people sharing the same passion as I have. Aside from academics, by attending SSP, I wish I could establish friendships with my peers who are also passionate about science.
5.Respond to any or all of these topics with up to 500 words altogether:
Describe a life challenge (of any nature, past or present) you have faced.
Describe an achievement that you are personally proud of.
Describe a time when you could have taken the easy way out, but didn't.
Describe any science or math reading, research, projects, or competitions (individual or team) you have done outside of regular coursework.
I. II. III.
Defending my friendship with a Tibetan girl was a challenge for me, as well as an achievement I'm proud of.
The second day I arrived at XXXXXX, I met T, a Tibetan refugee from India. We soon became best friends.
One day, on our way to the cafeteria, a Polish boy asked, "well, is Tibet part of China?"
"Yes!" "No!"
The atmosphere suddenly filled with embarrassment and awkwardness.
Although we both considered each other as best friend, we knew that our seemingly incredible friendship was based on not mentioning the conflict between our motherlands. But here it came.
I knew cultural impact is one of the most invaluable experience at XXXXXX. But then, what shall I do? Should I keep evading the conflict between the place T called "my country" and my country?
I didn't know the answer. The only thing I knew was that if I didn't take any action, the evasion of the conflict would turn into the estrangement between us.
And I would never let this happen.
That night, I went to T's room, talking about our misconceptions of each other's country. Afterwards, we decided to hold a coffee table (a student-lead discussion of global issues and conflicts) about China and Tibet.
Then, there came the exciting and exhausting nights of preparations in the library, and eventually, the coffee table.
During the coffee table, T described the life of Tibetan in Tibet and India and explained what Chinese government did to Tibet, which aroused audience's indignation towards China. To calm down the audience, I first pointed out that despite suffering, Tibet benefited from China in terms of economy and education. I then proposed that one reason Chinese government did this is that Tibet is to important to China, and analyzed several aspects: The Yellow River and the Yangtze River, the water source for the entire China, both originate in Tibet; Tibet lies between China and India, preventing further conflicts between these two countries, etc.
By the end of the coffee table, all the audience achieved a comprehensive understanding of the conflict between Tibet and China: it's not a conflict you can easily say which side is right or who is wrong.
And I, through my defense of T's invaluable friendship, not only gained a new perspective on Sino-Tibetan relation, but also learned how to be rational in the midst of conflict resolution.
READING
1, 2, 3, Infinity: Facts and Speculations of Science by George Gamow
Euclid's Window: The Story of Geometry from Parallel Lines to Hyperspace by Leonard Mlodinow
History of Quantum Physics by Cao Tianyuan Capo
Alice in Quantumland: An Allegory of Quantum Physics by Robert Gilmore
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu
365 Starry Nights: An Introduction to Astronomy for Every Night of the Year by Chet Raymo
Advent of the Algorithm: The 300-Year Journey from an Idea to the Computer by David Berlinski
e: The Story of a Number by Eli Maor
The Joy of Pi. by David Blatner
Science Magazine
Scientific American Magazine
RESEARCH
Internship at Nanjing University Prof. Feng Miao's Group in Research of Mesoscopic Physics & Quantum Physics (March-June, 2014): Assistant in experiments on "Electronic structure and transport measurements of amorphous transition-metal oxides: observation of Fermi glass behavior".
COMPETITION
Chinese High School Mathematical Competition (prerequisite for CMO): First Prize (2012-2013, 2013-2014)
Chinese Mathematical Olympiad (CMO): Bronze Medal (2012-2013), Gold Medal (2013-2014).
Chinese Girls' Mathematical Olympiad (CGMO): Gold Medal (2014).
UNM-PNM Statewide High School Mathematics Contest: entered the second round (the result hasn't been released).
American Mathematics Competition (AMC): qualified AIME (the result hasn't been released).
Chinese High School Physics Competition (prerequisite for CPhO): Second Prize (2012-2013), First Prize (2013-2014).
Chinese Physics Olympiad (CPhO): Silver Medal (2013-2014).
National Olympiad in Informatics in Provinces (NOIP): Third Prize (2012-2013), First Prize (2013-2014).
