Jerome

Hello, my name is Jerome. I am fourteen years old and am enrolled in the Preuss School UCSD as a first-year student. My interests are mostly technological, like computer engineering, programming, and software engineering. I decided to write this because I believe it will create many opportunities for success. Through these fields, I hope to one day create revolutionary technology, such as developing AI-powered hardware or smart devices, that can improve lives, especially for those facing struggles like mine.

Raised in a low-income, Asian American household, I learned that the world has many struggles you have to keep up with or you will get left behind. After immigrating from Vietnam due to the war in Vietnam, my family did not have much wealth to start a prosperous life in America. Even though we were not wealthy, we persevered. With little more than will, my parents still succeeded and helped our family live. However, when I was five, my father left to live with his family in Texas. Being the only provider for the family, my mother got into school and studied hard, even with language issues, to support me and my siblings better and help us get where we are today.

This made me believe education is the only way out of economic uncertainty. Initially, school consisted more of survival than education, and the challenges I faced were fierce. There were no summer schools or personal instructors available to assist me. Living in a small apartment with my family, I didn't have a quiet study room. I was learning subjects I didn't precisely grasp at night since I didn't want to disrupt my mother or grandparents, who were already busy and tired. Knowing that my family could not afford the luxury of learning opportunities, I learned many things in public libraries or got resources from friends. I also took the initiative to study subjects on my own, planning to take courses in fields like computer engineering and programming to build the skills I will need.

Occasionally, I wondered if working so hard for just a few more opportunities was worth it. However, seeing my family struggle to keep up with our financial demands made me remember that I am not the only one going through this struggle. I always remember to pursue my goal and provide for my family in the future. Activities like video editing have helped me practice creativity and problem-solving, while soccer has built my ability to work with a team under pressure. Working out has taught me discipline and consistency, skills that will be just as critical in technology and engineering.

Getting into the Preuss School was one of the most important periods of my life. I was with peers who also had the same struggles as me in what they experienced and what they didn't have. It was inspiring, but it was also horrible. I learned that anyone can escape their origins through intelligence and struggle. I am now more resilient if only for the difficulties I have overcome. They have shown me something that money cannot buy: the ability to relate to people who are fighting invisible struggles, the drive to work harder than others who started with more, and the firm judgment that where you start does not always dictate where you finish.

These events significantly changed my views on the world. I now want to help others who resemble me, rather than only wanting to be successful for myself. I believe that a student being Asian is advantageous is a horrible stereotype. I wish to speak out for low-income students who are unheard of just because they do not have the privileges and opportunities that others might.

Bridge for Kids could help me acquire the equipment needed to pursue my interests in technology. I would get access to a higher-functioning laptop to learn and experiment with different fields of work and excel to get into prestigious universities. I would use these tools to start building projects, from coding small applications to eventually experimenting with AI and hardware integration. I want to learn how to make something revolutionary, such as AI systems or innovative devices that could assist underserved communities, improve education, or solve daily challenges that millions face. Because of this opportunity, I could see a future where I study hard in these technological fields and succeed in helping others learn, providing for them, and providing for my family to substitute the life they never had.

Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I hope you better understand who I am and what I could accomplish with your help.