Bao

Hello, my name is Bao! I’m currently sixteen years old, and I attend Monte Vista High School as a Junior graduating in 2027. For me, many aspects of my life—whether past, present, or future—can be attributed to my visions, aspirations, and dreams that I have set for myself in reaching my goals, some of which I have already achieved. However, I don’t believe there is ever a final destination, because there is always room to grow and a new goal to work towards, and it’s this very mentality I adhere to deeply throughout various situations in my life.

Ever since I could pick up scissors, my curiosity had branched myself toward new creations: I taught myself how to cut cardboard, how to glue together pieces, and forge something from my mind into real life! At that age, the concept of being able to output into this world what I could simply envision was, as a realization, absolutely astonishing. My parents supported me all the way through; they recognized I had this keen admiration for learning. As little me learned how to paint, craft, and draw from short tutorials I could find on YouTube, my parents were always there for me the whole way in supporting my endeavors.

Later on, when I was about nine years old, I began to move into the new genres of my creativity. I told myself, “What is there more to discover?”, and so I discovered: I learned the basics of Lua programming for Roblox through YouTube videos, enrolled for piano lessons—even before I laid my first finger on a piano key, I had always admired the intricacy and art of the instrument, and I was lucky enough to have my mom support and foster me on that journey—filmed my first stop-motion animation using the Godzilla figure I got for my eighth birthday, etc. These were the fundamental building blocks of my life, the rocks that laid the foundation for my monument.

Looking back, I realize that many of my actions today are the accumulation of the efforts I had made during my childhood. To illustrate what I mean, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, piano lessons also declined until they stopped entirely, and I was forced to gradually stop learning piano. However, this is where that same mindset that carried me throughout my childhood returned: I went on YouTube, searched up “How to play Spider-Man theme on Piano,” and began to watch. After mastering the piece, I opened YouTube once more and began to type: “How To...” Reflecting on this, I don’t want, need, or feel it is right to let the world’s limitations impose what I can or can’t do. Even if the piece is degrees above my skill level, such as La Campanella, I’ll always give it my all. Thus, despite my impediments, if I want to learn a new piano piece, I’ll practice until I master it.

If I want to become a doctor, attend Harvard, or any Ivy League school, I’ll chase the path and capture it. My academics, furthermore, have emphasized my work ethic into a new, almost self-competitive, philosophy. Starting in elementary, growing in middle school, and now developing further in high school, every assignment I’m tasked to do, I perform with the intention of gaining something—knowledge, inspiration, opportunities—from them. To attend school is a gift, not a privilege. If I have the prospect of an education, I will value, utilize, and respect it, so it may not go to waste.

This year, I am taking four AP classes (AP BIO, AP CALC, AP COMP SCI PR, AP ENG LANG), a dual enrollment course (US HISTORY 108), as well as Spanish and ASB. For me, these classes have taught me a lot, not just academically but also personally. Perfection as is, is not something I believe in because perfectionism has a limit; imperfection does not. When I take a test, I don’t view the grade; I analyze my mistakes. Indeed, I do succeed fairly well academically, achieving an “A” in every class throughout each year, but I feel that there’s more to education than simply a letter on a digital screen; education is what sparks change and development in society.

Echoing my classes, AP BIO—my favorite subject—has taught me the importance of human life as a study and is furthering my goal to become a doctor, because I feel we all have a moral obligation to help others; I know I can and will make a difference operating under a career in the medical field. My dual enrollment course has accentuated what it means to have good time management, because every action in our lives can be attributed to this quote: “Time is always against us.” A phrase that my teacher, Mr. Wilson, has long echoed into our ears each day in his class, which I hold gratitude for.

In terms of the most influential class for me this year, ASB is what I would consider to have dramatically developed my character as a leader and as a person. To be a leader is to ride the current of the ocean with one’s own crewmates, not to chase the ripples. In these regards, as I developed my instincts from elementary to middle school, I am now expanding those instincts into direct actions.

I have turned my hobbies, which began as personal anecdotes, into elements that I wish to share and push out to the world every day. For example, I didn’t often play the piano in front of others as much as I have now, part of which was because I hadn’t understood what it meant to “share with the world.” Music is something to be enjoyed by all, not hidden selfishly away. With almost nine years of playing the piano, I felt it was only right to share it with the people around me.

Additionally, I founded a 3D printing business, called BDPrinting, using what I had of my knowledge and resources to make some money in savings for my future. Using my understanding of coding, I created many games on Roblox, a game-creation platform, and recently this year, one of them, titled SUITBORN, has exploded in popularity, as I now manage my own team to further develop the game and look for collaborations to further my creation! It’s also been incredible to see how many people I’ve influenced.

I’ve seen individuals create amazing works of art with their own talent because my game inspired them to do so; in that sense, inspiring the next generation. In connection with my childhood, I have become the very tutors that I learned from, the people and ideas of my youth that sparked my original keen pursuit of creativity. I know younger me would be so proud, but I’m also excited for what the future me will have accomplished.

My creations that I have instituted have taught me a valuable lesson about how impactful anyone can be in this world, and I’m glad opportunities exist that can expand my efforts further.

Reaching for the stars has no downside; the worst possible case is that I will land on a cloud. I’m still young, I’ll never be perfect, and I know I have a long way until I find my purpose in life, but perhaps the purpose of life is to find a purpose in life. Using the fruits of my creations, I’m constantly working towards finding any and all opportunities to make my visions—going to Harvard, becoming a neurosurgeon, helping others both directly and indirectly—a reality, and if I can’t find any, I’ll make my own.