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Submission information
Submission Number: 277
Submission ID: 983
Submission UUID: 54fc3ac9-69bc-4eae-9a33-a8a8a2804ed1
Created: Fri, 04/15/2022 - 21:20
Completed: Fri, 04/15/2022 - 21:20
Changed: Tue, 05/06/2025 - 13:56
Remote IP address: 98.43.234.0
Submitted by:Anonymous
Language: English
Is draft: No
Flagged: Yes
Locked: Yes
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Mae
Chen
She, Her, Hers
Aurora
Colorado
United States
80016
Computer Science (Engineering, BA)
English (5), Chinese (5), Spanish (4)
My family and I visit our extended family in China every other summer, but this time, I was not told the occasion would be different. My aunts and uncles greeted us at the airport as usual, but usually my Grandma would be there too. After looking worriedly at the smog filled sky, I had arrived at the pothole outside of my Grandma’s apartment. As my eyes lifted off of the ground, I saw two pairs of stout legs and a smile, and I found myself running towards the figure.
I yelled, “NaiNai, you’re okay!” as I embraced my dear Grandmother, but I only received a weary smile in return. However, I didn’t pay much attention to it because after a long flight, I was ready to run up the two flights of stairs and finally lay in bed. I mustered all of my strength and started dragging my luggage up the stairs until I caught a glimpse of NaiNai using her strength to drag her left leg up the stairs. I would later learn that her leg was still imobile due to knee surgery.
For the next month, everytime we had to use the apartment stairs, we had to support her left side. Everytime we rode the bus, we had to pull her up onto the bus platform. Everytime she had to use the bathroom, we had to help her back up. I would help my NaiNai with anything in a heartbeat, but she has always been a strong, independent woman, and it hurt me to see that she felt like a burden. In reality, she was never the burden; it was the burden of China making daily life so inaccessible to those with disabilities.
I experienced first hand how the lack of disability friendly infrastructure impacted my Nainai and how unjust it was to marginalize and ignore minorities who have different needs. Although I was able to help my NaiNai by installing a grab-bar in her bathroom, I couldn’t help the other 83 million people in China with disabilities who also face such challenges. Besides in China, I realize that this is a Global problem and that in order to help millions of people, those who have a voice must advocate with evidence and influence policy.
I yelled, “NaiNai, you’re okay!” as I embraced my dear Grandmother, but I only received a weary smile in return. However, I didn’t pay much attention to it because after a long flight, I was ready to run up the two flights of stairs and finally lay in bed. I mustered all of my strength and started dragging my luggage up the stairs until I caught a glimpse of NaiNai using her strength to drag her left leg up the stairs. I would later learn that her leg was still imobile due to knee surgery.
For the next month, everytime we had to use the apartment stairs, we had to support her left side. Everytime we rode the bus, we had to pull her up onto the bus platform. Everytime she had to use the bathroom, we had to help her back up. I would help my NaiNai with anything in a heartbeat, but she has always been a strong, independent woman, and it hurt me to see that she felt like a burden. In reality, she was never the burden; it was the burden of China making daily life so inaccessible to those with disabilities.
I experienced first hand how the lack of disability friendly infrastructure impacted my Nainai and how unjust it was to marginalize and ignore minorities who have different needs. Although I was able to help my NaiNai by installing a grab-bar in her bathroom, I couldn’t help the other 83 million people in China with disabilities who also face such challenges. Besides in China, I realize that this is a Global problem and that in order to help millions of people, those who have a voice must advocate with evidence and influence policy.
Top 5 characteristics I would want in the person living down the hall from me:
1. I hope they're okay with me introducing myself on move-in day by greeting them with some Chinese candy.
2. They should want to share their culture with me as well. Whether that’s teaching me some words in their mother tongue, or telling me what superstitions their mom believes in, I’m all in!
3. Someone who wants me to be on their team. Someone who’s flexible with when I take the lead and when I support.
4. A driven individual whose determination is contagious, whose aspirations are inspiring, and whose collaboration is motivating.
5. Bonus points if they can introduce me to new things, socially and academically!
1. I hope they're okay with me introducing myself on move-in day by greeting them with some Chinese candy.
2. They should want to share their culture with me as well. Whether that’s teaching me some words in their mother tongue, or telling me what superstitions their mom believes in, I’m all in!
3. Someone who wants me to be on their team. Someone who’s flexible with when I take the lead and when I support.
4. A driven individual whose determination is contagious, whose aspirations are inspiring, and whose collaboration is motivating.
5. Bonus points if they can introduce me to new things, socially and academically!
My AP Spanish Literature class is one of my favorite classes because of the safe environment the students have created. We are a diverse group of students, with cultures from India to Venezuela to France, and, one day, we were discussing our perspectives on superstitions. I was intrigued to hear about how some Hindu homes hold the superstition of not letting feet touch books because it is believed to be disrespectful towards the deity of knowledge. I also shared how my mom bought me red underwear to wear during my Chinese zodiac year because she believed it would protect me from misfortune. We all giggled at how humans are so complex that, sometimes, it can seem silly.
Different groups have different traditional beliefs, but as we build more diverse yet intertwined communities, we form new views of the past, present, and future. Sometimes these understandings are formed through controversial conversations that can be rough to get through, but such conversations are necessary. When different voices are given the chance to work together, they each bring their own unique experiences to widen our perspectives on an initiative or solution. It’s necessary to push the limits of what is considered possible in small communities in order to, ideally, advance the rest of society in an inclusive, ethical, and moral way that doesn’t put any group at a disadvantage.
The Global Engineering RAP is exactly the place to not only surround me in this mindset, but to also surround myself with people who want to implement it. Although I am not the typical engineering major, I believe my passion for computer science will prove to be a great asset for such a team. By creating personalized simulations or algorithms, I will help gather the reliable, mass data that is so crucial to getting our solutions implemented by governmental powers. I can also code websites to help publish and increase support for our work from the public. As the executive chair of the Colorado Gifted and Talented Student Board, I also know the importance of advocating to the right people in order to influence legislation. I will continue to use my networking skills in this RAP and help connect my peers and I to those who have the power to implement our solutions nationally.
I want to better the standards of living globally not for fame or recognition or power, but so I won’t regret not using my privilege for good.
Different groups have different traditional beliefs, but as we build more diverse yet intertwined communities, we form new views of the past, present, and future. Sometimes these understandings are formed through controversial conversations that can be rough to get through, but such conversations are necessary. When different voices are given the chance to work together, they each bring their own unique experiences to widen our perspectives on an initiative or solution. It’s necessary to push the limits of what is considered possible in small communities in order to, ideally, advance the rest of society in an inclusive, ethical, and moral way that doesn’t put any group at a disadvantage.
The Global Engineering RAP is exactly the place to not only surround me in this mindset, but to also surround myself with people who want to implement it. Although I am not the typical engineering major, I believe my passion for computer science will prove to be a great asset for such a team. By creating personalized simulations or algorithms, I will help gather the reliable, mass data that is so crucial to getting our solutions implemented by governmental powers. I can also code websites to help publish and increase support for our work from the public. As the executive chair of the Colorado Gifted and Talented Student Board, I also know the importance of advocating to the right people in order to influence legislation. I will continue to use my networking skills in this RAP and help connect my peers and I to those who have the power to implement our solutions nationally.
I want to better the standards of living globally not for fame or recognition or power, but so I won’t regret not using my privilege for good.
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