University of California, Los Angeles — Psychology

In November 2021, when I first got elected as House Captain of Earth House in my high school, I realized that my role extended beyond just guidance, as I wished to create an environment where every member felt empowered to share their ideas - and celebrate their talents. Working with more than 50 students on a daily basis, I first sought to instill a sense of camaraderie, learning to not differentiate between students on the basis of age or grade. Being re-elected in December 2023 gave me an opportunity to continue my leadership journey, as I oversaw meetings, brainstormed upcoming events, and spearheaded the House Cup, ensuring that every voice shapes the house's identity.

When I consider how I have contributed to my house's efforts, I first of all realized that being a leader means more than being in charge. After all, I knew that a house is built, a home is nurtured - grown with values of appreciation and respect, and practices of communication and trust. Over time, as I put these philosophies into practice, I saw students becoming more vocal, and more engaged, which provided me the most personal perspective on leadership I could have imagined: that to be the best Captain possible, I needed to do less, not more, which meant putting my faith in others to perform specific tasks I assigned, and being ready to provide help when asked.

Of course, leading Earth House has been challenging at times, occasionally consuming, but ultimately revelatory, as I've come to see my community as an ecology, mirroring the complexity of the earth's systems. A rich balance, a complex biome. In need of small adjustment, constant refinement, but never complete reform and change. I know now that impactful leadership stems from grassroot engagement, and being adaptable, which, in my experience, means not just hearing, but listening to student concerns; not just looking, but noticing what excites, and unifies students. For Earth House, I've made every effort to create a space for students to express their talents unabashedly, and discover who they are with freedom, flexibility, and courage.