AnthroManTalks

After the summer break, the September Tap trip felt like a nice way to get back into things. The morning started off the usual way. We grabbed some tools, got assigned to a plot of land, and get to work. We were moving and leveling out dirt , but for a different section of the temple grounds than last time. It was one of those jobs that sounds simple until you’re actually knee-deep in it. Even though it was hot and dusty, everyone kept the energy up. There’s something kind of

Section 3 of The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down  really got me thinking about how much communication (or the lack of it) can shape everything. This section focuses on Lia’s medical treatment and how her parents and the doctors keep misunderstanding each other—not because they don’t care, but because they literally come from two completely different worlds. The Hmong parents see Lia’s seizures as a spiritual issue, while the doctors view them as a medical emergency. Both

I just wrapped up my first set of supplemental essays for one of my schools, which feels like a milestone. It’s kind of surreal to think...

Club Fair this year was insane. Over 200 clubs set up posters, games, and food all across the quad. You could barely walk without bumping into someone trying to hand you a flyer or bribe you with food. My club’s table was stacked with cookies and brownies, which we’d spent the day before preparing for. I actually bought all the food myself and had to stash it in my car until the extended lunch period. My backseat smelled like sugar the entire morning, but honestly it was wort

Section 2 takes a step back from Lia’s story and talks about the history of the Hmong people. At first I thought it was kind of random,...

The August trip was another day of putting in the work to make the temple space better. We started off with the main task of the day: shoveling dirt and bringing it down to fill the planting sections. It sounds simple, but after a few trips back and forth with buckets, you really start to feel it. Still, there’s something satisfying about watching those empty sections slowly fill up and knowing it’s all going to help the temple gardens grow in the future.     After finishing

S ection 1 introduces Lia Lee, a young Hmong girl with epilepsy. Her family sees the seizures as more than a medical issue. They believe...

After taking April off for AP exams (which definitely took enough energy on their own), we came back strong for the May Tap trip. This time, the main mission was simple but intense: move dirt. A lot of it.    We were helping prep the area for future construction, so the goal was to clear and level out a section of the yard. It started off feeling endless, but once we got into a rhythm: passing buckets, digging in teams, and building those mini dirt piles. We actually made sol

It’s officially college application season, and it’s just as overwhelming as people say it is.     I’ve been deep in the process lately:...

The Science Alliance Fair was honestly such a great experience. Over 200 buddies and mentors from all four high schools in our district came together for a day full of science, stations, and some seriously creative projects. It was cool seeing how many students showed up ready to either present their experiments or help out with the event.    Each school ran a different science station. Ours was the bubble station, which was a huge hit. We had buddies experimenting with bubbl

Lately, I’ve been working on a new research project with my mentor Dr. Ben Lee. It’s about depression, but not just in the way we usually...

The March trip had a different kind of energy. This time, we focused more on cleaning and organizing than heavy lifting, but it still...

Finishing Upheaval by Jared Diamond really brought everything full circle for me. After learning about how individuals and nations deal with crisis, and how the world struggles with global-scale threats, the last chapters ask the hardest question of all: now what?    Diamond doesn’t give a clear roadmap, but he definitely leaves us with a challenge. He reminds readers that knowing about the past only matters if we actually use it. The future, in a way, becomes another kind of

This month’s trip was less about dirt piles and more about getting into the nitty-gritty of clearing land. We started off by splitting up. A few people helped move furniture around the temple, while the rest of us headed to this big patch of wild grass that looked like it hadn’t been touched in years.     Pulling up weeds and overgrown grass sounds simple until you're actually doing it under the sun, one handful at a time. But honestly, it was kind of peaceful. Once we got in

Hey everyone! It’s been a long time since my last post, way longer than I planned. I usually write every couple of weeks, but between AP...

Hello everyone! I wanted to update you on my research projects. As you know, my study on BRCA1/2 mutations that cause breast cancer has...

We kicked off the morning by digging and moving a whole lot of dirt. Not exactly glamorous, but honestly kind of satisfying. Everyone jumped in, and it was cool seeing how quickly the area started to take shape once we got going. Bucket chains, mini dirt mountains—it was a solid workout, but we made it fun.    After that, we had lunch with the adult volunteers and temple masters. It was really chill—we all sat together, ate, and just talked. Having that mix of generations the

As I got into Part 3 of Upheaval by Jared Diamond, I was really struck by how he takes his crisis framework beyond just countries and...

Hi everyone! It’s time for another update on the Science Alliance journey. The momentum keeps building, and this meeting was nothing short of inspiring!    This session was all about progress. By now, buddies and mentors have hit their stride, and it’s amazing to see the confidence and creativity. The third meeting focused on refining project methods and gathering materials to move for experimentation.    Several teams even began their first trials during the meeting! Watchin

This December, the Tap Initiative continued its mission of making an impact, and while I wasn’t able to join this time, the incredible work done by our members deserves a spotlight!     The day kicked off with a fresh addition to our process: a brand-new hours tracking sheet that members used to log their contributions. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with members appreciating the organized and easy-to-use system. It’s always great to see innovation in action, and t