Musical Journey with the Violin
I have been playing the violin for the past 5 years and this is my 3rd year in our school’s advanced Chamber Orchestra. We have played pieces ranging from classical, to rock, to original movie scores over the past 4 years. We have been consistently ranked as one of the best orchestras in the state. I have had the opportunity to play alongside professional musicians and my extremely talented peers, so this is truly a phenomenal experience. I intend to continue making music in college, joining orchestras and ensembles.
Here is a photo of my advanced Chamber Orchestra class in 10th grade.
Here is a photo of my intermediate String Orchestra class in 9th grade.
This image is me with our award for best orchestra from the Anaheim Heritage Music Festival.
Here is a link to videos of our most recent concert.
Link to concert videos
Numismatics: A Global Collection
I am an avid numismatist (coin collector). I’ve collected coins from over 75 countries, asking my friends and relatives to bring me coins from all the places they travel. Each country’s currency is reflective of their history and culture, so collecting them allows me to learn a bit more about people across the globe.
Here are some photos of my favorite coins.
The one that is standing up has side lettering stating, “decus et tutamen” which is Latin for “an ornament and a safeguard.” It refers to the inscription as both adding to the aesthetic value of the coin while protecting against clipping. The first coin on the first row is from Croatia and has a picture of a marten, an animal highly valued for its pelt. Since Croatia joined the EU, coins depicting this cute mammal will no longer be minted. The second is a one penny coin from Rhodesia minted in 1939. Rhodesia became the country Zimbabwe in 1980 and now uses the U.S. dollar. The last coin in the top row is one of my largest coins. It is a twelve sided coin which is a departure from regular rounded coins, but several countries such as the UK and Australia currently mint coins of the same shape. In the second row is the 2 ½ piastre coin from Lebanon, an example of a non-integer denomination. The coin featuring an owl is from Greece and has a value of 10 Lepta. Greece now uses Euros, so this coin is becoming increasingly rare. The last coin is the 7-sided 20 pence coin from the UK. It is considered a Reuleaux polygon because it has a constant width, a property helpful for vending machines since they identify currency based on coin width. Despite being fairly common, I have a strong affinity for this coin due to this delightful mathematical property.
Here are some more photos of the coins to get a clearer look at them.
Peer Tutoring and Academic Support
I have been part of our school’s CSF club for the past 4 years, tutoring my peers after school in subjects ranging from Algebra, Computer Science, Calculus, Engineering, English, Spanish, and Physics. I have also helped students with paragraph writing and essay revision. This gives me the chance to provide a bit of confidence and support so that they continue to pursue the subjects that interest them rather than become discouraged. Here I am tutoring my classmate in Spanish vocabulary.
Community Volunteering
When I have free time, I volunteer at the Burbank Public Libraries as a teen volunteer. I work on creating materials for student mental health resources and compiling tools that will assist students with their academics. I feel that I am able to provide a small bit of guidance to other students, even if I don’t get the opportunity to directly interact with them.
Exploring Radio Communications
I am a HAM radio operator with a Technician license. I have been practicing using my handheld radio to make communications. My goal is to connect to the International Space Station and speak with the astronauts. In this photo I am using my software defined radio (SDR) and my smaller antenna to tune into the NOAA weather station to test that the program is working correctly. An SDR allows me to use a wider range of protocols than a handheld radio offers. The waterfall display on the computer screen helps me identify strong frequencies to tune into.
Leadership in Coding and STEM Advocacy
I am the Chairwoman of our school’s Coding Club. I use my position for recruitment, outreach, and lessons. When I joined the club, I was the only woman, so I have been working to encourage more girls to take an interest in this field. We are currently preparing to compete in the ACSL competition this January.
Securing the Digital World
My love for computers sparked an interest in cybersecurity. I have participated in cybersecurity competitions, completed courses with expert instructors, and earned certifications in the field. These experiences have deepened my understanding and appreciation for how machines function and communicate. I apply the principles I’ve learned to my projects, employing secure coding practices. As a member of the GIAC advisory board, I provide guidance on cybersecurity implementation to support the safer use of technology.
Certifications
Link to Certification Badges
Awards
Link to Award Badges
Electronics and Engineering Projects
I’ve been working on electronics projects for several years. I love learning how the different parts of circuits fit together and building a functional item from scratch. I look for ways I can integrate my electronics skills with my interest in programming and experimenting. I founded the Digital Electronics Club this year to share this passion with my classmates. I have so far taught my 15 members about the basics of electronics and how computers function and we are beginning to work on hands-on projects involving Arduinos and FPGAs. I have a photo of some of my club members, a few of whom are making funny faces, below. My club advisor, Ms. Kosbab, is on the far left. In my spare time I work on smaller projects such as the one depicted here. In the bottom two photos, I am soldering a capacitor to a circuit board for an FM radio.
I am part of the NAF Engineering Academy which gives me the opportunity to take classes in engineering, interact with people in my future career paths, and engage in a more hands-on approach to my studies. Here are a few pictures of my CAD models I made in my 9th grade Engineering 1 class.
Scissor Lift
Model Car
