Personal Statement by Nandin-Erdene

Personal Statement by Nandin-Erdene - April 2025 Scholarship Essay

I’ve always been fascinated by technology. I remember the first time a 5-year-old me played Minecraft on my dad’s newly bought computer. My eyes sparkled with curiosity when my dad explained the various hardware and software technologies that built the computer. I simply could not wrap my head around the fact that this grey square box in front of me could do the “impossible”. Ever since then, I found myself watching YouTube videos after videos to update my knowledge on the latest technology news. Apple’s newly released iPhone model, self-driving cars, and the controversies surrounding Artificial Intelligence- they all fueled my curiosity and hunger for more knowledge.

However, growing up in Mongolia, I’ve had little opportunity to engage with technology in school. I distinctly remember the tiny clustered room that my small public school called the “Computer Lab”- it hosted one of the few classes that I was truly interested in. But because I went to an underfunded K-12 public school, our lab room only had a total of about six to seven computers for a class of over 30 students, so I often felt envious listening to my cousins talk about the competitions, technological devices, and opportunities their school offered.

At my school, the limitations were discouraging; there were no STEM clubs to help me discover my interest, my teachers often went on strike, leaving me to self-study, and career exploration was practically non-existent. I longed for something beyond that.

Fast forward to today, as a senior in an American high school, I’m truly grateful for the opportunities that my school has provided me with. During my high school, I became a part of student-run clubs and organizations that aligned with my beliefs and interests such as the Overcome Together and Student Advocates for Free Speech, played on the girls’ tennis team, and even had the privilege to participate in SCOPE 2023- a summer program offered by Penn State College of Ed where I conducted research and presented my findings to the faculty. Academically, I followed my interest and passion for technology and enrolled in multiple AP classes, such as AP Calculus AB and BC, AP Computer Science A, and an IT Foundations certification course offered at Harrisburg University. Through these selected courses, I have found my passion for programming, leading me to indulge in working on my personal coding projects and learning new languages through online courses like CS50: Intro to Programming with Python. My curiosity even led me to shadow a senior software engineer at JP Morgan Chase and gain firsthand insight into the field I hope to enter.

These opportunities helped me to solidify my desire to study computer science, focusing on artificial intelligence and machine learning. I believe that the advancement of AI holds the power to drive invaluable change to our society, and I wish to be part of that process.

Inspired by tech companies like ClimateAI and AI for Good Foundations, using my education, I aspire to establish a nonprofit, focusing on bridging the gap between underprivileged students and the educational opportunities they seek. I’ve experienced firsthand how a lack of resources can deteriorate ambitions, and I hope to eliminate this issue through my non-profit. Through this organization, I plan to create an AI-driven platform that can provide personalized lessons, offering students guidance and knowledge, and eventually expand to aiding underfunded schools with technological devices and access to STEM opportunities. I believe that pursuing this vision will not only motivate me to work harder but empower me to make impactful change for others.

However, achieving these goals comes with significant financial challenges. My parents are reluctant to assist me financially as they are focused on paying off credit card debt and hospital bills from my baby brother’s birth. The cost of tuition, room and board, textbooks, and supplies is overwhelming, and I’m worried that financial stress may affect my studies. However, with the aid of this scholarship, I will be able to fund my education and fully dedicate myself to my education and aspirations without financial strain.

To me, education is not a privilege; it is a right. Given this opportunity, I will make the most of it by excelling academically, contributing to my community, and using my skills to break down educational barriers for others. Winning this scholarship would not only ease my financial burden but also empower me to use technology as a force for positive change.