Princeton values community and encourages students, faculty, staff and leadership to engage in respectful conversations that can expand their perspectives and challenge their ideas and beliefs. As a prospective member of this community, reflect on how your lived experiences will impact the conversations you will have in the classroom, the dining hall or other campus spaces. What lessons have you learned in life thus far? What will your classmates learn from you? In short, how has your lived experience shaped you? 

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When the music at our homecoming rally switched from country to hip-hop, I noticed students quietly drifting off the floor. It wasn’t hostility—it was habit. Different groups listened to different songs, ate lunch at different tables, joined different clubs. The divide reflected something bigger: our school was growing more diverse, but our student body wasn’t growing more united.

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I first joined student council to plan events, but quickly realized that the real work was in building bridges. Sophomore year, I began reaching out to affinity groups and cultural clubs, suggesting small collaborations: a fundraiser together here, a service day together there. I assumed that recruiting members from different backgrounds would solve everything. When some of those students left after a semester, I had to confront the truth: representation is not the same as inclusion.

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By senior year, as president of the council, I focused on intentional community-building. We ran bilingual announcements, created traditions that drew on multiple cultures, and made space for students to shape agendas themselves. Our biggest test came with the spring festival—an event historically marked by separate playlists, separate decorations, separate attendance. That year, we worked as one team. No single song got everyone dancing, but the crowd stayed together until the very end.

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I learned that unity is not about erasing differences, but about honoring them while finding shared purpose. At Princeton, I hope to carry this lesson into classrooms and clubs alike—whether debating ideas in a seminar, collaborating on an engineering project, or serving in student government. My goal will be to ensure that every voice is heard and valued, because inclusive dialogue always leads to stronger, fairer solutions.

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Please describe why you are interested in studying engineering at Princeton. Include any of your experiences in, or exposure to engineering, and how you think the programs offered at the University suit your particular interests.

 

For years I thought my passions for science and helping people were separate tracks. That changed when I interned at a biomedical startup working on low-cost diagnostic devices. My role was small—testing prototypes, analyzing data sets—but I saw how engineering could directly serve communities by making health tools affordable and accessible.

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That experience inspired me to pursue Chemical and Biological Engineering at Princeton. Courses such as Design, Synthesis, and Optimization of Chemical Processes would let me build on my background in lab modeling, while the new Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute offers a hub for connecting disciplines in pursuit of health solutions. I’m eager to join the Bioengineering Summer Undergraduate Research Program, where I could collaborate on projects that combine computation and biology, much like Dr. Ellen Zhong’s work with AI.

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Princeton’s International Internship Program also excites me. With placements at organizations that apply technology for social good, I would learn how to adapt engineering principles to different cultural and economic contexts. Pursuing a certificate in Entrepreneurship would ensure that the research I do doesn’t remain theoretical, but instead reaches people through sustainable implementation.

 

For me, engineering is not just a technical pursuit—it’s a way to unite STEM and service. Princeton’s programs offer the perfect environment to train as both an innovator and a community-minded problem solver.

Princeton has a longstanding commitment to service and civic engagement. Tell us how your story intersects (or will intersect) with these ideals.

When I joined a science outreach club in high school, I expected to teach experiments. I didn’t expect to rethink what outreach really meant.

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As co-president, I helped design our second curriculum for elementary students. Our first attempt, filled with labs and lectures, drew only kids already enthusiastic about science. We weren’t reaching the ones who thought STEM was boring or intimidating. That realization pushed me to bring in other voices. We partnered with theater students to create role-play activities, with the creative writing club to add short poems as reflections, and with debate and business groups to frame science as a tool for leadership and impact.

 

The result was our “Space Mission” program. Students designed imaginary alien ecosystems, took turns as mission leaders, and reflected in haikus after experiments. Post-program surveys showed a wider group of kids expressing interest in STEM, including many who had never joined before. Encouraged, we wrote a business-style proposal for our local science museum to expand the program.

 

The biggest lesson was that service thrives when it’s collaborative and human-centered. By inviting students outside of STEM into our planning, we reached children who otherwise would have tuned out. At Princeton, I plan to apply the same philosophy: listen first, build coalitions, and design programs that empower more people to see themselves as problem solvers.​

What is a new skill you would like to learn in college? 

I’d love to learn digital illustration. I admire how artists blend creativity and technology to communicate ideas powerfully. Learning to illustrate would not only give me a new form of self-expression but also a tool to share research findings in ways that are accessible and engaging to broader audiences.

What brings you joy? 

Cooking with friends brings me joy. From kneading dough together to debating how much spice is “too much,” the kitchen becomes a place of laughter and collaboration. Sharing a meal we created reminds me that food is not just nourishment, but one of the simplest, happiest ways to build community.

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What song represents the soundtrack of your life at this moment?  

“On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons captures how I feel right now. The song’s upbeat rhythm and lyrics about climbing and celebrating reflect the mix of gratitude and anticipation I carry. I’m proud of the challenges I’ve overcome and energized for the opportunities waiting in college.