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Anusha Rao

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Bio

My name is Anusha Rao, and I am a senior at Issaquah High School attending the University of California-Berkeley for applied mathematics next fall. Some of my hobbies include dancing, DECA, community service, and educational enrichment. I have been learning Bharatnatyam, Indian Classical Dance, since I was 4 years old, and have performed in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. A production I was part of was aired on Indian national television. I have also participated in DECA for all four years of high school and reached the international level of competition for three of these years. This year, I am the Chief Fundraising Officer for my high school (raising more than $4000 in profit), and won first place internationally for the HTDM DECA event. Additionally, I have volunteered at multiple organizations dedicated to serving the autistic community, volunteered on hospital floors, and tutored for mathematics. I am currently working at Mathnasium, a math tutoring facility. I also love to hike, paint or sew, and read in my free time! I am passionate about academics and community involvement. Three words that describe me would be hard-working, empathetic, and passionate.

Education

Issaquah High School

High School
2019 - 2023

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Master's degree program

  • Majors of interest:

    • Applied Mathematics
    • Data Science
    • Mathematical Economics
    • Mathematics and Computer Science
    • Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Technology

    • Dream career goals:

    • Math Tutor

      Mathnasium
      2022 – 20231 year

    Sports

    Dancing

    Club
    2010 – Present14 years

    Arts

    • National PTSA Reflections

      Visual Arts
      2021 – 2022

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Washington Autism Alliance — Gala Procurement (Auction Items)
      2021 – 2021
    • Volunteering

      COPE - Swedish Hospital — Junior Health Scholar (created
      2022 – 2023
    • Volunteering

      Aspiring Youth — Summer camp instructor
      2021 – 2021

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Zachary Scheppat Memorial Science Scholarship
    Winner
    Everyday uses of math captivated me from a young age, encouraged by my parents reciting the times table to me over dinner and math competitions all over the state. My summers were filled with STEM learning as they took me to technology-related workshops, app-development sessions, and science fairs. Growing older, I began to branch out: working for a math tutoring service, volunteering to help peers with calculus, and volunteering in STEM-related fields. Tutoring for math and physics problems gave way to my passion for teaching, a career path I am considering for the future. My role in math tutoring was to develop new ways to approach a subject with only one right answer, which encouraged both students and myself to think about math creatively. I want to continue tutoring as a part-time job post-graduation, especially for students that do not have well-established educational resources. Another vision I have for my future career is creating beneficial technology for neurodiverse and disabled communities. My cousin was diagnosed with autism when he was young, which originally inspired me to connect with the local autistic community. Throughout high school, I have explored opportunities to collaborate with different organizations for volunteering, planning fundraisers, and community events. Two companies, NavigateVR (aimed toward young adults) and Floreo (aimed towards children), developed virtual reality technology that would display a social situation to people with autism and helped them learn to respond to overwhelming stimuli through virtual reality rather than experiencing it for the first time in real life. This technology is not perfected yet but is important to develop as it can potentially help students and young adults with autism engage socially. I want to use my knowledge in both biology and computer science to create AI or machine learning technology that can adapt to individuals, and provide personalized feedback or advice to approach these overstimulating situations. Additionally, I would like to focus on creating smaller, more affordable products that I can donate to schools to aid in learning specifically for special education programs. This upcoming school year, I will be attending the University of California-Berkeley to pursue an undergraduate degree in Applied Mathematics. The applied mathematics major includes specialization in three areas of interest, and I hope to study machine learning, economics, and biology/psychology (with more of an informatics focus). This opportunity will allow me to learn more about technology and the effects of technology on biological processes or psychology. The last issue that I am passionate about is sustainability. I’m particularly interested in solving urbanization and the current effects of redlining. There is a large disparity in average temperatures between previously redlined urban areas and suburbs, which can interfere with learning for students or general well-being. The materials used in infrastructure are often unhealthier than suburban areas and contribute to the declining health of residents. In my career in science, I want to use my knowledge in math, biology, and chemistry to create affordable and sustainable infrastructure that can be easily implemented in cities and involve children in the process so that they can connect with their community. To conclude, I want to create an impact in the science field by helping groups that have consistently been overlooked. Using the practical skills, hands-on experiences, and technical knowledge I learn in college, I hope to create beneficial technology, educate young minds, and implement sustainable processes or infrastructure alongside those from marginalized groups.