Hobbies and interests
Reading
Painting and Studio Art
Singing
Photography and Photo Editing
Art
Psychology
Piano
Gaming
Guitar
Acting And Theater
Embroidery And Cross Stitching
English
Ukulele
Coding And Computer Science
Science
Board Games and Puzzles
Reading
Action
Adventure
Fantasy
Humor
Mystery
Novels
Romance
Science Fiction
Science
Thriller
Suspense
Young Adult
I read books multiple times per week
Merel van den Dungen
3,855
Bold Points21x
Nominee1x
FinalistMerel van den Dungen
3,855
Bold Points21x
Nominee1x
FinalistBio
My vision for the future is unclear right now, which makes figuring out which majors I want to pursue difficult.
However, something I've always known about my future is that I want to do something exciting. Something that challenges me to go out of my comfort zone, lets me meet new people, and isn't the same routine day in and day out.
This is why I think acting appeals to me. It's not about fame or money. It's about learning to be comfortable with yourself and to take opportunities as they come around. It's about meeting new people and hearing their stories.
A setback I have to deal with is getting intense social anxiety when I'm in a group of people, and public speaking is a nightmare, but I refuse to let these fears keep me from going after the dreams I've had for so long.
I have many other academic interests. Coding and computer science used to be something I didn't pay much mind to until my dad bought me a book from where I can easily learn to code. It opened up a whole new world for me to explore and expand my creativity into. Understanding and learning how computers work and all the different things that can be achieved with them is incredibly important for the coming age.
When all is said and done, I do still want to do my best to keep an open mind about career options. There are so many career paths that haven't even crossed my mind, which is why I'll continue to branch out and try new things till I find the career that makes me the happiest.
Education
Redmond High School
High SchoolMiscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Majors of interest:
- Acting
- Computer Science
- Criminal Justice/Police Science
- English Language and Literature, General
- Digital Arts
- Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
- Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Other
- Visual and Performing Arts, General
- Make-Up Artist/Specialist
- Game and Interactive Media Design
- Psychology, General
- Dance, General
- Planetary Astronomy and Science
Career
Dream career field:
Performing Arts
Dream career goals:
Actress
Dining staff
Emerald Heights2020 – Present4 years
Sports
Mixed Martial Arts
2018 – Present6 years
Awards
- 1st place in Jr. Women's Sparring
- 3rd place Jr. Men's & Women's Kata
- 3rd place Jr. Weapons Division
Track & Field
Varsity2015 – 20172 years
Basketball
Intramural2014 – 20162 years
Badminton
Varsity2016 – 20171 year
Volleyball
Varsity2016 – 20171 year
Arts
Gotta Dance
Dance"I Wanna Dance With Somebody"2013 – 2013
Public services
Volunteering
Oranje School — Assistant Teacher2014 – 2019
Future Interests
Volunteering
Philanthropy
Entrepreneurship
Chris Jackson Computer Science Education Scholarship
My interest in a computer science degree stemmed from my dad. He works at Oracle and loves his job. Anytime the subject of computers arises during dinner, we find ourselves sitting at the dinner table hours after we've finished eating, utterly absorbed in the conversation. Whenever my sister and I ask him questions about how something works, whether it's to do directly with his work or with technology as a whole, we can count on him to intricately and thoroughly explain anything we don't understand.
We weren't even remotely interested in learning how to code for the longest time. Despite our constant disinterest, Dad always does his best to show us how important it is for anyone our age to learn the basics of computers, especially in this day and age where the internet has become such a big part of our lives.
The difference between having a teacher that is passionate about the topic as opposed to a teacher that isn't is immense. It can make or break your chances of gaining interest in the subject, which is why, notwithstanding my apathy for computers, my dad's passion for them has slowly turned that around.
One day my dad called me over and asked if he should buy this book he was looking at on Amazon. It was a coding book called "Learn to Program with Minecraft". It was meant for kids ages 10+, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. At first, it took a lot of motivation from my dad to get started on it, but once I got going, I began to enjoy it. I loved that it combined learning with one of my favorite games. I'm extremely grateful my dad got me into coding and I'd love to find more unique and interesting ways to learn once I've finished the book.
My goal/dream job after receiving my degree would be to do something in game-development or design. I think it would be a great way to incorporate my creativity into something I do for a living. But I'm also open to other jobs that present themselves to me along the way. There are so many different jobs in the technological world that I don't want to tunnel vision on one specific job when there could be another job out there that's just as good if not better for my want and needs.
My advanced problem-solving skills make me the perfect candidate for this scholarship opportunity. For example, I used skills that I’d learned earlier in the coding book for certain exercises that didn’t work with the software I was using to get the same result. This is a crucial strength since coding consists greatly of problem-solving, and out-of-the-box thinking offers the best results. This fall, my dad will be paying the tuition for me and my two sisters. He’s done so much for us, that it would mean the world to me if I could give back in any way I can.