the Bridge
i try to make room for the quietest voice
Leadership, to me, is not about being the loudest person in the room.
I have learned to listen carefully, prepare well, and use what I know to help other people take part.
why i make room
i know what it feels like to be left out
When I joined a Youth Policy Council in Korea, I was the youngest member. At first, some of the older students brushed aside my ideas and told me to let them speak. I remember feeling like my voice did not belong in the room.
Instead of giving up, I researched a crosswalk safety sensor, prepared carefully, and presented the idea to the group. The proposal won the vote. What stayed with me was not just that my idea was chosen, but how it felt to finally be heard.
what i learned
“I build a bridge: I listen, I prepare, and I make room for the quietest voice to step in.”
tech that connect
USING ROBOTICS TO REACH BEYOND MY OWN CLASSROOM.
I wanted to see if the skills I was learning in robotics could be useful beyond my own school. I donated Arduino robotic arm kits to students in Ho Chi Minh City and met with them through Zoom to explore how the parts, coding, and movement worked together.
Teaching from another country was different from building something myself. I had to slow down, explain ideas clearly, and find another way when something was confusing. It showed me that technology can do more than solve problems. It can help people learn together, even from far away.
Mentoring in action
SESSION 1 - CORE CONTROL CONCEPTS
Joystick mapping, ESP-NOW wireless communication, and proportional control for smooth robotic arm movement.
SESSION 2 - CODE & CONTROL REFINEMENT
C++ control logic, PCA9685 servo mapping, dead-zone filtering, motion smoothing, and safety limits.
leadership on campus
i learn more when i help someone else learn
Robotics TA
TROUBLESHOTTING WITH PEERS
I help classmates work through building and programming problems during robotics. I try not to jump straight to the answer. Instead, I ask questions and help them find the next step.
JUNIOR MENTORSHIP
VEX IQ BASEBOT WORKSHOP
I designed and led a VEX IQ BaseBot workshop for younger students, helping them understand how a robot comes together and how small changes affect the way it moves.
SCHOOL AMBASSADOR
WELCOMING NEW FAMILIES
As a second-generation Rectory student, I enjoy welcoming prospective families and sharing the school from a student’s point of view.
Community action
I TRY TO HELP WHEN I SEE A PROBLEM I CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT.
doggywings
DESIGNING FOR A SECOND CHANCE
I used design and technology to support Korean rescue dogs seeking adoptive families in the United States. I created posters and helped build a website so each dog’s story could reach more potential adopters.
urban drainage
SMALL WORK, IMMEDIATE IMPACT
During Korea’s summer monsoon season, I helped clear leaves and debris from street drainage grates so rainwater could flow more freely. It was simple work, but it showed me that helping a community can start with noticing what needs to be done.
