Discus Award Winner
Caren Balram
12th Grade, NY
ATTRIBUTES
Academics
From advance placement courses to science and math research, I received straight A’s during my high school career and was able to tutor other students in need of academic help. I am also an honorary member of the National Honors Society, National History Honors Society, Health Professions and Hospital Science Program, and Carl Sagan Science/ Math Honors Academy at my school, where students are given the opportunity to participate in the New York City Science and Engineering Fair (NYCSEF). I also intern at the North Shore LIJ Hospital in collaboration with the Health Professions program. Through this internship, I am exposed to a medical environment and I am allowed to partake in several departments. I hope that one day I will be working in the medical field as a Physician’s Assistant.
Community Service
Outside of school, I also spend my free time volunteering. I love to give a helping hand and I believe that it is important to give back, especially to those in need. I was an engaged member of 4-H, Key, and Red Cross Clubs during my junior year. To end my senior year smoothly, I plan to continue being a member of the 4-H and Salsa Club. I also volunteered in soup kitchens, raised money for many organizations such as AIDS, Autism and UNICEF, cleaned up parks, and contributed to a lot of in-school fundraisers for instance, the Rose Sale and the Faculty and Student Hurricane Sandy Relief.
Other Achievements
In addition to public service, I enjoy learning about other cultures. I have been an active member of the Chinese and Salsa club at my school and still an involved member of the Salsa Club. I learned some common phrases in Chinese and the dancing style of salsa. Furthermore, I was an active member of the 4-H, Chess, Desi, Key and Red Cross Club. In the past year, I have been really involved with CITY Project, where I created and facilitated workshops focused on peer pressure and presented it to elementary school kids. I have served as a Teen Consultant at ACT for Youth, a program funded by Cornell University Cooperative Extension and the Department of Health. As a Teen Consultant, I worked on raising awareness and finding a cure to HIV/AIDs.
