Triet- A Passion for Learning

I traced my finger across the variable assignments, the conditional loops, and the swaps in the Quicksort algorithm. It was Wednesday night, but I was more interested in this problem more than my schoolwork.  I love the explorative nature of self-learning: every concept I learn diverges into exponentially more problems to explore, like a binary tree, and I appreciate the effort of the scholars from universities and professions all across the planet who contribute to humanity’s collective knowledge through the Web. I smile whimsically when I reason that computer science should be more comprehensible than European history because it deals with simple operations instead of capricious human actions. My passion for science and mathematics translates into two personal goals I hope to fulfill. Every day, I try to improve my skills so that I can conquer tougher challenges, knowing that every difficulty becomes easier with relentless effort, even the Quicksort algorithm.I was recently accepted to the Summer Academy in Applied Science (SAAST) at the University of Pennsylvania for a course on Complex Networks. Despite having received a full scholarship, I still must somehow purchase my ticket to Philadelphia and find money for miscellaneous expenses. Last year, my father contracted kidney cancer and even after surgery, he has to stay home. In his condition, he cannot work as a restaurant waiter. Even with a salary, our family lives paycheck by paycheck, and I feel heartbroken at the prospect of asking my mother for money to pay for airfare to attend SAAST. Unfortunately, I am not old enough to work to pay for my own plane ticket to Pennsylvania.  I am hoping to get A Bridge for Kids sponsorship so I can attend this prestigious camp during the summer.Also, if someone were to provide me with monetary assistance to complete a science fair project, I would most definitely have a shot at winning a prestigious national science fair such as Intel. Intel is a short-term goal that I intend to achieve before graduating from high school. To combat the problem of education inequality personally, I have taken to self-studying thermodynamics, physics, economics, linear algebra, and computer science. A subject need only to be intellectually-stimulating for it to be worthy of study. I am prioritizing the goals for which I require assistance, and the Summer Academy is at the top of my list with monetary funding for science research following closely behind.I am privileged to attend a school with friends and teachers who motivate me to embrace my strengths. America provides students with rewarding opportunities, but it is ultimately up to the students to cleverly utilize these opened doors and to challenge themselves to be innovative and successful. Attending SAAST will be the first of my many endeavors to achieve greatness and higher knowledge, aiding me in my path to graduate from college and to get a lucrative job. This is my American Dream. My peers believe I will accomplish great things, and should they be true, I would owe my success to the people who had helped me to bridge my struggle in this moment of need.Make a donation to help Triet achieve his dreams!