About me
my passion
I'm passionate about serving the community by addressing current issues through various lenses. From interviewing teachers for journalism to hosting ASB fundraisers to statistically analyzing public policies, I seek to better the world and people around me. In everything I do, I strive to show compassion and empathy to those around me.
my interests
I'm interested in the intersection between artificial intelligence and the economy, both in terms of how it can influence markets as well as how we can use AI tools to better understand global economies and forecast market behaviors. I'm also passionate about environmental conservation, and I aim to leverage both research and journalism to aid the conservation movement.
fun facts
Dance is my safe space, where I can express myself through creative movement and bond with my peers. In my free time, I love to try out new recipes and share dishes with my friends and family. I also enjoy reading historical fiction and romance, and especially enjoy watching historical Chinese dramas in my free time. On the weekends, I often go on hikes with my family to unwind and appreciate nature.
Economics & Research
Assessing the Impact of the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act on Technology Access for Disabled Americans
Harker Oeconomia — Student-Run Economics Society
To me, economics presents a clearer lens through which I can view the world. As president of Oeconomia, my school's economics society, my goal is to foster interest in economics beyond the classroom through our newsletter, magazine, speaker events, and competitions. I specifically love the data-driven side of economics — the summer before 11th grade, I ran econometrics research on the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act and found that although all state agencies received federal grants, not all of them used those grants to increase technology loan accessibility. That disconnect inspired me to continue econometrics research in the Sheth Scholars Program. I plan to keep conducting research like this in college and beyond to inform better policymaking and institutional decisions.
Development of an AI-Based Video Monitoring System to Investigate Drug Effects on Daphnia Magna
I built a low-cost, AI-powered monitoring system for biological model organisms to make this type of analysis more accessible to small labs and independent researchers. I raised Daphnia at home, observed their heart rates under a microscope, and designed a multi-camera setup to track their movement in the tank. I proposed training a ResNet50 architecture on the collected heart rate and movement data.
Journalism
Through journalism, I strive to illuminate voices and experiences that might otherwise be overlooked, from interviewing a social activist about their advocacy work to sitting down with a senior for an hour to learn their story. I've written about prevalent issues in our school community — from toxic competitiveness to a fear of showing care — and spotlighted talented student athletes and faculty. My favorite part of journalism is seeing our impact on the community: when someone's eyes light up when they spot themselves in the newspaper, when a classmate approaches me saying they resonated with my opinion article, or when I exchange smiles with the kitchen staff after featuring their hard work preparing for prom.
Articles
Despite the widespread disdain for AI creation, AI videos and art continue proliferating in the digital realm, causing a devaluation of human creativity and skill. Especially on social media where short-form videos aim to grab the short attention span of viewers, aesthetics and wow-factor often take precedence over the actual meaning behind art.
We often stuff our daily lives so full of activity that there's no chance to share these words with each other — writing a card is my way of trying to encapsulate those unspoken words. In the end, they're only pieces of paper, but to me, they're more valuable than any toy or prize. I refuse to let the emotions and shared moments reflected in these cards fade away.
Greason also encouraged schools like Harker to foster open discussion and create a community where all voices can be heard. Some Harker students have already held both an anti-ICE walkout as well as a debate about border control. Discussions like these are the first step in addressing divisive issues like immigration and nativism.
Just as he has discovered the best spells for winning a duel in Magic: The Gathering and has amassed a vast collection of cards, Dr. Brown has found that teaching offers a similar fulfillment and strives to use his knowledge to inspire and support his students.
Page designs
Photography
Service
Sustainable Small Business Initiative
Building a website that showcases sustainability-focused small businesses in downtown Los Gatos — featuring interviews with business owners, curated sustainable product recommendations, blog posts and a resource hub to help other small businesses adopt greener practices.
SAFE Worldwide
SAFE Worldwide is a local wildlife conservation nonprofit that aims to protect endangered wildlife from poachers and other environmental damage. As the project coordinator and youth volunteer, I contact local conservation groups for interviews, create educational articles and posters, help at local events like the Los Gatos Farmers' Market, and act as a bridge between SAFE Worldwide and the younger generation.
CLASSICS4KIDS
I co-founded Classics for Kids with my Latin classmates to ignite a love for Classics among younger children through educational classes and interactive activities. As the VP of Design, I spearhead the kids' magazine, Carpe Diem!, create promotional materials, and design slides for classes. I also lead sessions at local libraries for young children and teach a Greek mythology online class.
Student Council
As a class council representative, I plan monthly meetings, deliver announcements, and lead spirit dance rehearsals, karaoke nights, and advisory olympics to foster connection within our grade. Beyond the Class of 2027, I directed a school-wide literacy fundraiser — designing a new format involving 15 clubs that raised $2,476 for schools in China and Africa — and organized a Thanksgiving gratitude campaign that generated 500+ letters across the upper school. I love student council because we can foster empathy and gratitude through actions and events that have the potential to benefit the school and global community.
Dance
Dance is one of my most cherished constants in life. From when I first stepped onstage as a five-year-old in a sequined tutu to my second-to-last Dance Production, the pure joy that rushes through my veins as stage lights hit my skin and music fills the theater will always be an unchanging euphoria. From contemporary to jazz to folk, the studio will always be my safe space where I can express myself and share my love for dance with peers.
Cooking/Baking
Working in the kitchen is my go-to way to unwind after a long week or stressful day. From making a simple omelet to spending hours on a complex dessert, cooking and baking offer me another creative outlet that ends with a delicious result. I also love to share my dishes with family and friends, either by posting tutorials on social media (@chelcooks) or by bringing samples to school for peers and teachers to try.