©2002 Quest Scholars

PO Box 20054
Stanford, CA 94309

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questions@syesp.stanford.edu

Peggy has a passion for learning and for helping others. These qualities have been the main source of her desire to become a teacher. Her love of interpersonal communication stems from her open-mindedness and willingness to discover the unique perspective of each individual she meets. She loves to give back to her community and finds the means to do that through her leadership positions in Interact and Key Club at her school. Her athletic interests include tennis, basketball, and ice skating. She enjoys studying the sciences and developed an interest in medicine after working at her local hospital. Her quiet observation and thoughtfulness in responding to questions belies her admiration of modesty and patience. She tilts her head to one side when she asks questions of her own, her very stance the soul of inquisition.

Through her motivation and patience, Helen gives life to the altruism she so admires. Some of her most fulfilling activities include volunteering at the animal shelter and the library and singing for the senior residential home. Her favorite extra-curricular is helping her community through Key Club, but also enjoys Model United Nations, Ecology Club, and Academic Decathlon. Being respectful and considerate are perpetual qualities in her character, which she attributes to growing up in China and living with the elders in her family. She appreciates kindness and self-assurance, cultivating those traits in herself as well as others. Her quiet consideration and reflective nature reminds friends of the ultimate mystery that is every human being.

Rebecca emigrated from Malaysia a few years ago and has applied many of the lessons she learned there to her life in California. After exposure to cancer patients in Singapore, she was motivated to volunteer at her county hospital aiding those in need. She has determination and understanding; always enjoying a challenge and never wanting to miss an opportunity to learn. She admires honesty and generosity, influenced greatly in this by her love of her religion. Naturally inclined to take care of others, this personality has taught her to be independent and responsible. Learning to communicate with others is also a trait she has honed as a result of her interactions. She believes that this life is to better those around her and build her own inner beauty.

Her love of the environment and its extensive diversity sparked Candice's interest in science. She enjoys the tranquility of nature and sharing that peace with the people she loves. At her school she participates in Math Club and learns discipline and determination running on the Cross Country Team. She appreciates a good challenge and derives the most pleasure from learning new ideas. She is generous and innovative with her skills as a pianist, qualities also reflected in her considerate, selfless nature. She loves to spend time with her family, seeing in them the attributes of courage and uniqueness that she so admires. She is always willing to teach others, thoughtlessly giving of her time and knowledge; bestowing her care and consideration upon each individual she meets.

Shelley has a deep appreciation for nature, reveling in its serenity and striving to preserve it on all levels. Her family is the most important part of her life, her encouragement and her motivation to motivate herself. They taught her to value learning and to realize that it is an ongoing process throughout life. Her interests include the American Habitat Club, the track team, and playing the piano. She is dedicated to her dreams and understands the crucial nature of an open mind. Admiring honesty and free-spiritedness, she expresses her thoughts with intelligence and confidence. She loves to think and appreciates opportunities to do so in all forms. Her burning curiosity to understand those around her lives in small gestures of kindness and deep, interrogating gazes.

Justin's main interests lie in the fields of environmental science and psychology. One of his ultimate goals is to make a difference in the life of another and, as a result, he searches for an area that will make not only himself, but also those around him happier. His activities include the Greek Club and the Foreign Film Club while his hobbies range from sports to computers. He loves to read but enjoys learning through keen observation as well. His insights into the actions of others and life in general are reflective of this scrutiny and his approach incites a cycle of curiosity and learning in all who interact with him. He admires strength of character and a sense of humor; displaying an ample supply of both. His warm heart radiates through in small acts of kindness; subtle demonstrations of consideration.

Joanna loves being outside and interacting with her environment. She enjoys leadership and community service, qualities instilled and nurtured through her experience as a Girl Scout. Her love of music is manifest in her participation in her school orchestra, where she plays the bassoon as well as the bass clarinet. Her athleticism is reflected in her love of Track and Field, tennis, and basketball. Her family emigrated from Romania when she was very young and she is thankful for the opportunity to experience both cultures, as well as the opportunity to develop determination and understanding through the responsibility placed upon her. She both admires and personifies altruism and courage with her maturity and optimistic outlook on life.

Megan is very active in her school community, enjoying activities such as cheerleading and student government. She loves to dance ballet and often writes in her journal or paints. She wants to teach others to become stronger, more principled individuals by developing those qualities within herself. She loves children and hopes to become a pediatrician that she might apply her knowledge to better the lives of tomorrow. The energy in her presence is nearly palpable and she strives to maintain a positive outlook in all situations. She revels in pondering the paradoxes that life throws in her path and finding the strength to surmount them.

A large factor in Ally's development was growing up for several years in Zimbabwe. Enduring the hardships there made her a stronger person and inspired her to work toward solving the many problems she saw there. Not only did she cultivate an interest in her environment, but also a desire to better human existence. As a result she founded the Assisting AIDS Orphans organization which ships items to AIDS orphans in Africa. She loves ballet and admires the determination required for advancement. Her diverse cultural background influenced her appreciation for every individual and her ability to relate to a wide variety of people. In strengthening the qualities of selflessness and intelligence, she hopes to become a good leader and a good friend. The gentle strength she exudes sparkles in her eyes, dazzling viewers with comfort and support.

Benji loves studying and understanding the habits and tendencies of others. From this trait springs his desire to increase the efficiency of business. He believes that understanding others and being able to see their perspective is crucial to meaningful interaction. He is heavily involved in interscholastic activities including basketball, football, Pep Band, and National Honor Society. His participation has taught him to develop leadership, ingenuity, patience, determination, integrity and trust while his open and amiable nature encourages those around him to do the same. He admires honesty, diligence, and responsibility; striving to achieve these qualities in all that he does. He believes in efficiency of communication as well as that of business, and opens up with an immediate candor that is reassuring and refreshing

Victoria Kim
Hometown: West Hills, CA
School: El Camino Real H.S.
Professional Aspirations: Physician

Victoria's passion for music shines through in her love of the flute and the piano. Her desire to reach out to others and make a positive change is manifest in her dream of becoming a physician and driven by her love of the human spirit. She enjoys spending her time reading, speaking with her friends and family, and volunteering at the local hospital. She admires sincerity and integrity and wishes to cultivate understanding of herself and others. She is a model of selflessness and gratitude, understanding the struggles and triumphs of others while appreciating each as if they where her own. Her instinctive consideration is noble in the purity of its motive.

Shezad Lakhani
Hometown: Freemont, CA
School: John F. Kennedy H.S.
Professional Aspirations: Journalism, Diplomat

Shezad and his family emigrated from Bombay, India five years ago, seeing a chance for a better education; better career opportunities. He likes learning about detailed natural processes that illuminate the functioning of the earth as a whole, so Biology and Chemistry are favorite subjects of his. He wants to interact with the world and its people so as to influence its evolution; naturally as well as socially. He volunteers at a local hospital, finding fulfillment in improving the lives of others and developing communication skills. He likes to be productive and have a good time, admiring and wishing to cultivate sincerity and courage. He likes to impose challenges upon himself with the intention of self-improvement, never allowing the difficulty to dissuade him from the undertaking.

Michael Ngyuen
Hometown: San Jose, CA
School: Wilcox H.S.
Professional Aspirations:
Law, Journalism

Michael loves learning about biology, particularly about problems in the environment and how they affect the rest of the world. His desire to aid humanity in conjunction with his curiosity about the earth has led to an interest in environmental law. At his high school he most enjoys participating in student government where he is able to help his school and his community as well as develop leadership skills. He loves running and tennis, seeing sports as a means of physical and mental rejuvenation. He enjoys singing and expressing his appreciation for the talents of others. His spirited, congenial nature makes his admiration of humor and honesty no surprise. He has fire in his eyes; igniting a flame in those who are fortunate enough to interact with him.

Veronica loves interacting with youth and supporting children who choose to dream. In them can be seen memorable elements of herself; curiosity, imagination, and motivation. She finds all these tendencies satiated when studying sciences, particularly chemistry. Her other interests include creating 3-Dimensional art projects and reading. She is an integral part of her church youth group, teaching Sunday school and singing in the choir. She tutors at a local tech center which helps her to build confidence and others and, consequently, in herself. Emigrating from Mexico as a child taught her adaptability and strength, as well as the determination and caring she so admires. She works daily to support her family, a heavy responsibility that she shoulders without question. One of her primary goals is to make others happy, an endeavor she succeeds in every minute of every day.

Carolyn came to the states from Jamaica as a young girl and maintains a fierce pride in her heritage. Her extensive family has played an integral part in shaping the individual that she is, encouraging love and understanding- sharing and honesty. Academically, she is fascinated by the sciences and is exposed to a range of disciplines in the Science Club. At her school she finds most fulfillment in Debate and Conflict Management; explaining that they help her to develop self-confidence and optimism. She also volunteers at the local library; enjoying the learning from every person she interacts with. She views her entire life as an endless quest for knowledge and seeks to cultivate her leadership skills. Her courage allows her to ask meaningful questions with an intensity and sincerity that defies answering with anything but the same.ity and humor.

Steven is most fascinated by the sciences, thirsting for the knowledge of natural phenomena and thrilled by the question of 'why?'. His activities include Academic Team, Math Team, Debate, basketball, soccer, and reading. He is continually integrating characteristics of those he admires into his own personality, and thus creating a perpetual state of amelioration. He appreciates light- heartedness and intelligence, instigating conversations that both stimulate and amuse. Deriving strength from his confidence in himself and his family, his calm nature is soothing to all he encounters. He is very aware of his surroundings, never missing a beat in the symphony of life.

Brandon's passion lies with the stage and he finds experiencing the magic of the theatre to be one of the most satisfying pastimes. Other activities include reading, soccer, and Moot Court. His interests range from anthropology to molecular biology with a dash of politics for good flavor. He accepts the world for its reality, but never fails to wonder at the potential of human existence. A flexible character allows him to view a situation quickly from multiple vantage points and consequently provides considerable insight into his surroundings. He believes that one of the key elements in life is balance; finding it, maintaining it, and utilizing it to the advantage of himself and others. He seeks genuine connections with every person he meets, knowing that he can learn as much from them as he can from himself.

Cheuk most admires integrity and kindness, aspiring to aid others in the capacity of a physician. He is motivated in this by his love of the sciences, especially genetics and human biology. Having experienced ill health as a child, the lack of genuine care in many practitioners of medical care was brought to his attention. Since then, he has been inspired to provide for others the care that he could not have. While he enjoys both academic and math clubs at his school, he has found participating in martial arts to be one of his most meaningful activities. He wants to form deep connections with those he encounters with an earnest sincerity. He has a modest eagerness augmented by an open- mind and a desire to expand his knowledge so as to help others.

She finds the most enjoyment in helping others, participating in Key Club and Link Crew. Other important interscholastic activities are volleyball and academic league. Especially interested in sciences, she loves to learn about medicine and genetics. She finds watching those around her learn and develop is also very fulfilling. Whether a concept is new or familiar, she is willing to look at it from a variety of angles and try to understand it from the perspective of another. She deems her family to be the most important facet of her life. She is the substance that holds them together, but they provide the energy that powers her existence. Admiring loyalty and honesty, she still feels that the most important quality in others is a good heart. In this respect, she is able to relate to anyone with whom she shares the common bond of kindness.

Andrei's interest in biology and the environment has lead to a desire for ecological preservation. His desire to see man's potential for compassion realized enhances this desire. He appreciates the rewards of track and sees running as a break from reality and an opportunity to strive toward a goal with his entire being. His Romanian heritage is very much a part of the individual he is today; living in Romania, Columbia, and the U.S. has cultivated his flexibility and adaptability. His ability to see to the heart of a matter with logic and sensibility is reflected in his admiration of intelligence and unselfishness. He loves to learn and to spend time with others, receiving from both joys an appreciation for foreign perspectives. A tiny smile tugs perpetually at his lips, a hint of the humor he always manages to find in the most unexpected of places.

Henry's innovative nature and love of creating and then building structures sparked an interest in engineering. He loves to be with his friends and believes that forging strong family bonds can result in greater understanding and appreciation of others. He enjoys tutoring other students and taking computer design classes as well as athletic activities such as ice skating, basketball and volleyball. He wishes to expand his curiosity by reaching for the inner potential he is constantly searching for and learning about. He admires honesty and individualism, displaying copious amounts of both. He is very observant, though he does not always divulge that which he notes, and a hearty smile consistently brightens his face.