Music

I have been passionate about classical music ever since I started listening to it as a baby. I started playing piano when I was five, then switched to the violin when I was seven. The violin is a difficult but charming instrument. I have been working very hard to master it as much as possible so that I can play good music. As I continue to improve my playing skills, I bring more joy to myself and the audience. Below is the Accolay I played recently.

When I was young, my mom bought me a book series called “Beast Academy,” which explains math principles in a comic book style. These books sparked my interest in math and I was able to teach myself all elementary-level math before third grade. My mom introduced me to AOPS.com where I learned pre-algebra. Then I started systematic after-school classes for Algebra 1 and Geometry during fourth and fifth grade. Currently, I am studying mostly Number Theory and Probability for the AMC 8 and AMC 10 math competitions. Even though these problems are challenging, I feel satisfied when they are solved. It is like finding a path while exploring a hidden forest. The awards I have received are like beautiful gems that I came across along the journey.

I am currently learning to sketch and paint. I love painting more than any other visual art because of its unlimited color and creation. Art is another way of self-expression and communication. I feel peaceful when immersed in a project, either basic practices or fun ceramic production. Please click here or on the Art Gallery to review the examples of my art pieces.

I have played soccer for four years on our local travel team. Many of my close friends are also teammates from then. Playing soccer as a team is completely different from playing tennis against your opponent. My family makes it fun when we play tennis tournaments against each other, especially with my elder brother. I also had intensive tennis training last year for 6-7 hours per week, and I tried golf last summer. Currently, I am playing tennis and swimming on a team.

My parents have been actively involved in community affairs. They started a family tradition of community service when I was a toddler. For example, we always join beach cleanup activities. We also have a tradition before Christmas where we select toys to donate to other kids in need, and we support fundraising activities in our school. Before the pandemic, we went to local assisted living homes once a month and performed music for elderly citizens. During the pandemic, my parents set an example of making full use of their business resources to help other people in danger. They donated over $30,000 worth of PPEs (personal protective equipment) to local hospitals in Long Island. This experience stimulated me to start a charity foundation. I am currently designing a series of cartoon characters that will feature in my comic. They will also be printed on T-Shirts, which will be sold to raise funding and advocate our values of community support. The current status is shown under Cartoons for Charity.

I became fascinated with history research in 6th grade when my teacher assigned us group projects that required teamwork and volume reading. It is always exciting to do the research thoroughly, discuss it with teammates, and provoke new thoughts. Our school supports the IAC (International Academic Competitions). I qualified for final regional competitions in Geography, History, and Science. To explore wider, I will challenge myself by reading a variety of books so I can hopefully reach national competitions.