©2002 Quest Scholars

PO Box 20054
Stanford, CA 94309

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LOCAL: (650) 331-3280
FAX: (650) 653-2516
questions@syesp.stanford.edu

A first-generation Mexican-American youth, Josias plans to become a doctor in order to help low-income families that cannot afford their medical bills. His soft-spoken determination and dedication to service make him a natural leader. Josias brings his passion for hard work to every aspect of his life, including his high school's cross county and basketball team, and several local community service projects. Throughout his life, Josias hopes to travel to distant places, without losing touch with his home community. His unique combination of respect and curiosity stands out to all who meet him. Josias loves spending time with his younger brother, developing close friendships, and learning from different cultures and ideas. In every aspect of his life, he strives to live with integrity and love.

Always open and honest to everyone, Sumeet instills confidence and happiness in others by showing her genuine compassion and care for them. Despite having to overcome the difficulties of immigrating to America only one year ago, she retains her fresh and optimistic view on life. Sumeet loves math, psychology, and economics. She hopes to become an honest lawyer and make a difference in other people's lives. She enjoys writing poetry and debating over interesting topics, but often delights in simple pleasures as sitting in the shade of a tree to think or listening to Indian music as well. She admires Mother Teresa for her unconditional love for mankind, and strives to copy such concern through her activities, such as peer counseling for new students.

Hometown: Redwood City, CA
Professional Aspiration:
Music/Biology

Nicholas describes himself as a boy who thinks. He sits back and plays his viola, and tells stories about the times past and the times to come. As a child, Nicholas wanted to be a paleontologist-as an adolescent, a veterinarian. Today he simply watches the world, examining society and making plans for the day he is ready to make his move and change it. Biology is his passion, and so is helping people. In whichever profession he pursues, Nicholas will meld his love of life with his love of service. Living with his mother in a single-parent home that borders the deltas which become the San Francisco Bay, Nicholas has not only gained a deep respect for the human being, but also a respect for nature. Nicholas focuses on creativity, self-expression and athletics. Despite the pressures that go along with the years before entering college, Nicholas directs his attention to the future, without neglecting the person he is today.

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Professional Aspiration:
Chemistry

Alvin Chin was born in Anchorage, Alaska. Having been in close contact with Alaskan wildlife since he was little, Alvin has a very personal interest in natural processes. Along with his passion for nature, he always seeks to satisfy his mind by constantly asking questions, doing his own experiments, and reading voraciously. Alvin has always believed that everything can be enlightening if treated with the right attitude and enthusiasm. He enjoys relaxing in the sun with his human and animal friends. Though he's pulled in many different directions, Alvin is currently interested in life science, and is considering a career in microbiology.

Hometown: Long Beach, CA
Professional Aspiration:
Disability Law

TG loves to smile and laugh, and gains great satisfaction in sharing his joy for life with everyone around him. He sees introspection as crucial to his happiness, and strives to learn more about himself and his environment. TG aspires to practice environmental justice law and also hopes to become a lobbyist for people with disabilities (himself living with the challenges of cerebral palsy). He looks forward to his senior year and his outreach project in which he will make a public service announcement regarding storm drain pollution. He also plans to continue his volunteer work teaching young children, an activity that brings him great pleasure and fulfillment.

Hometown: Culver City, CA
Professional Aspiration:
Oceanography/Architecture

Elba radiates confidence and determination, while sparking curiosity and hope in everyone she encounters. Having emigrated to the U.S. from Guatemala, she is very grateful for the academic opportunities she has today. With her family's support, she strives to continually challenge herself academically and personally, always hoping to learn more about herself and the world around her. In elementary school, Elba developed a passion for the environment through school field trips to the ocean. She has continued her concern for the environment through participation in several different local service projects, and through her interest in oceanography and green architecture. To Elba, being successful in life means that she will be happy with whatever path she chooses to follow. She wants to help guide struggling students to accomplish their dreams like many teachers and mentors have done for her.

Hometown: Thousand Oaks, CA
Aspiration:
Disability Law

Tung emigrated from Vietnam in the summer of 1995, and his accomplishments since that time are phenomenal. Although he is still refining his English, Tung possesses excellent communication skills; his critical thinking power is apparent regardless of what language he speaks. As a Vietnamese and an American, Tung is proud of his traditions and identity. Tung's name is Vietnamese for pine tree, a symbol of consistency amidst seasonal change that well suits Tung's calm determination. While in Vietnam, Tung aspired to become a priest, but coming to the U.S. has expanded the range of his professional interests. Tung's desire to help others and maintain his religious ideals fuel his interest in a medical career.

Hometown: Pittsboro, NC
Professional Aspiration:
Modern Dance

Christina's unassuming poise and grace make her a joy to all those around her. Her appreciation for art and beauty sparks her desire to become a modern dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Ensemble. Her passion for dance allows her to practice many of the core values she has learned from her family, including the importance of setting goals and of helping lead others toward the fulfillment of those goals. Christina says she received the gift of integrity and a thirst for knowledge from her father, and that her mother gave her the humor that has allowed her to live a wonderful life. Christina extends the warmth and charisma of her family into her concern for the environment. Christina suggests awareness and educating children as the most fundamental solution to today's environmental problems. In addition to studying the complexity of the challenges facing the environment, Christina loves to explore and celebrate the beauty of the world around her.

Hometown: Diamond Bar, CA
Professional Aspiration:
Medicine and Biology

Candice enjoys learning about science, and is especially fascinated by biology. Underneath her humility and quiet disposition, one discovers her great passion and talent for music and art. She has played piano for the past twelve years, and views playing as a way to express her feelings. She has also played various other instruments such as the flute, the violin, and the euphonium. She likes art as well, and spends a great deal of time drawing and making collages. One of Candice's strongest characteristics is her determination and her willingness to work hard. She plans to apply this trait to her life goal of making impacts in others' lives, which she considers to be the key to happiness. In the future, she hopes to work in medicine, for her, one possible way to incorporate science and serving others.

Hometown: Odell, OR
Professional Aspiration:
Medicine

Jessika possesses a sincere and dedicated drive to improve herself and to improve the lives of those around her. Since she was little, she has loved to pay attention to details and question things she wants to learn more. When she becomes a mother, she wants to instill in her children the importance of balancing professional success with strong and educated values - a lesson her parents have taught her well. Jessika is always passionate and full of energy, ready to pour all her heart into something she cares deeply about. From her heavy involvement in activities at school, she learns how to take responsibility and people-relations skills. She wants to achieve her dream of being a doctor and to continue meeting new people and helping them in their lives.

Hometown: San Gabriel, CA
Professional Aspiration:
Journalism

Annie has a strong passion for reading and writing, although she is equally excited by science, especially biology and ecology. She is currently exploring a career in journalism with an angle towards science. She hopes to one day help people understand science and the way the world works. Journalism seems like a perfect way to express her natural ability to write and her unending intellectual curiosity. She loves to write poetry and plans to write a novel at some point in her life. She wants to have a successful career, a happy family, and a meaningful life. She believes in the potential for good in all people, and the power of every individual to shape his or her life in a positive, purposeful way. She is an embodiment of this belief, always having the quiet courage to see the bright side of things and the willingness to help others to see it.

Hometown: La Puente, CA
Professional Aspiration:
Teaching

Erika constantly tries to be happy and spread her happiness to those around her. She attests her beaming smile to a deep gratitude for the opportunity to be alive. Erika loves being close to nature and reflecting in it. The environment helps her learn more about who she is and her dreams for the future. Erika thrives on the help she can give to others. Erika is also a lover of children, believing that children are the greatest hope and light of the world. She wants to become an elementary teacher and give the children the love that many do not get from their own homes and communities. She sees teaching as a two-way relationship, in which she would learn just as much as her students.

Hometown: Bronx, NY
Professional Aspiration:
Teaching/Psychology

June is a thoughtful and creative young woman with an exuberant smile and a fresh sense of humor. With her passion for children and her own child-like nature, she aspires to become a grade-school teacher or a psychologist. June is an accomplished musician; not only is she a proficient piano player, she is also a violinist who plays with heart as well as skill. She sometimes plays violin on romantic places, from New York Street corners to the middle of dried up lakes. To express her love of nature, she has been volunteering her time at the New York Botanical Garden. She is especially attached to a single tree on her street because it has a rose tied to it. It has become a symbol of hope for her. Like that tree, she would like to become a hope to others around her.

Hometown: St. Helena, CA
Professional Aspiration:
Oncology and Music

Teal's passionate dynamism defies description. Her interests range from singing opera and performing in musicals and dramatic productions, to working with underserved children. In everything she does, Teal demonstrates her unique combination of emotional determination and careful thoughtfulness. She is fascinated by her own growth as a human being, and often reflects on how changes in the life around her (including two years living and working on a small African island), have helped shape the person she is. In order to slow deforestation in her hometown, Teal started a land restoration and preservation program call Acorn Soup. There, she worked with 1st through 3rd graders with learning disabilities or emotional hardships. Teal aims to combine her love for children and her passion for music by working as a pediatric oncologist with a specialty in music therapy.

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Professional Aspirations:
Engineering/Medicine/Education

A natural leader, Emanuel thrives on helping those around him develop to their full potential. He hopes to apply his leadership skills to a career in which he can support his family while still giving back to his community. Emanuel has a wide range of professional interests, including engineering, medicine, business, theology, environmental science, education, and basketball coaching. He approaches his future career choice like every aspect of his life--with a relaxed, but careful determination. Emanuel has strong faith in himself and his peers and believes that with the right attitude, the problems that face our world today can and will be solved. Emanuel expresses his love of competition and new experiences through a wide range of sports. In addition to playing basketball, football, cross-country, volleyball and track & field for his school, he is also senior class president and actively involved in school activities.

James enjoys science and technology and has a passion for the undiscovered mysteries of the universe. He wants to become a particle physicist, with the hope of eventually conducting research with a space agency like NASA. He dreams of one day visiting the surface of Mars, in order to help explore the possibilities of creating a major life-supporting environment. James strongly believes that human nature is inherently good and that humans are fully capable of coexisting harmoniously in one world nation. The problems that arise from differences in culture, religion, and race can and will be overcome. He exemplifies his beliefs through a compassionate heart and persevering attitude even during difficult times. He enjoys learning from his family. Often contemplative and thoughtful, he surprises his friends around him with his vitality and humor.

Hometown: San Diego, CA
Professional Aspiration:
Medicine/Genetics/Law

Sanjum is a poised and mature young man who admires sincerity and the ability to deeply care for others. Sanjum, whose name means precious, deeply cares for his family and loves to spend time with his sixteen year-old sister. He feels that his parents have instilled in him the qualities necessary to succeed in life, both internally and externally. Sanjum also practices the Sikh religion, which requires him to keep long hair and not shave. The turban that he wears symbolizes his devotion to his religion. Sanjum expresses his concern for the environment by organizing beach clean-ups, graffiti paint outs, and trash pick-ups in the San Diego area. In his growing desire to help improve the world, he hopes to one day discover a cure for cancer that has afflicted so many of his friends and family members.

A quiet and reflective person, Chang deeply cares about other people and seeks loyalty and courage in friends. After spending the first ten years of his life in China, Chang has maintained a strong interest in Chinese culture, poetry, and philosophy. He brings open-minded thoughtfulness to the differences he has experienced between his community in Sylvania, OH, and his Chinese heritage, as well as to all other aspects of his life. Chang often finds himself torn personally between the roles of a cynic and an idealist. Though he loves nature's beauty and spontaneity, he also appreciates the structured and organized nature of math, science, and computers. An avid fan of science fiction and computers, Chang plans to pursue a career in Computer Science and Economics.

A dedicated athlete and a diligent student, Angela enjoys spending time with friends, playing basketball and lacrosse, eating good food, dancing along with music videos, and accomplishing her goals. She is an understanding friend and takes pride in the fact that people find her to be trustworthy and reliable. She actively exercises leadership qualities and strives to achieve a leadership position in her community. She aspires to study cultures around the world and enlighten people about different societal institutions. Angela dreams of being happy and successful, and works to live by the quote: "Live as if to die tomorrow, Learn as if to live forever."

Hometown: Bellevue, WA
Professional Aspiration:
Entrepreneur

Sok's sense of humor and wit enliven those around her with a unique combination of optimism, maturity and perceptiveness. Sok strongly believes in respect for others and does not believe in judging people, ideas, or actions unless she posses a solid understanding and knowledge of the facts that surround the issue being judged. One of her major concerns is overpopulation, especially in third-world countries and regions of poverty. Sok's interest in environmental science is fueled by her experiences growing up in Los Angeles and Bellevue, Washington. Her goals are to live with integrity, not be afraid to go after what she wants, to have an impact on her community and to be surrounded with people she loves. She lives up to her goals in practice, helping her parents run their own business. Because of what she has learned working side-by-side with her parents, she wants to develop and direct her own company in the future.

Melisa is a creative, quiet and mature young woman who is aspiring to make an impact on others' lives by becoming a biologist or an oncologist. She has qualities of a good communicator, often surprising those around her with her witty, and eloquent remarks and stories. She admires people with integrity, honesty, and confidence. In her spare time, she likes to sew clothes and make crafts. She actively contributes to her school and community as a member of Key Club and Interact. She strives to lead her peers as president of CSF and FBLA. Melisa balances her academic studies with extra-curricular activites and athletics. She has been a member of North High's internationally ranked drill team and is currently a member of Pep Squad. She values her family and friends' support and encouragement.