Help Transcultural Twins Build East-West Bridges

Hi, my name is Phac Le Tuan. I'm fundraising for twin Vietnamese girls of modest means who are graduating six months early from high school at age 17 to embark on the first leg of a self-directed study on bi-cultural societies in Asia before starting college in the US.

As natural super-achievers with exceptional self-discipline, they have overcome significant health challenges in very early childhood. Since primary and middle school, they have studied foreign languages, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Vietnamese, and a little French, to prepare for an increasingly multilingual world. In high school, they discovered a passion for neuroscience and have been wondering how a multilingual world will impact the evolution of the human brain in future generations.

With that in mind, they have been working very hard, taking numerous AP classes and graduating early to carve out time to travel to Asian countries where there are two or more official languages and where most young people are fluent in languages as far apart as English and Chinese.

They intend to start the first leg of their long-term study by conducting qualitative surveys to explore areas such as Communication and Cross-Cultural Understanding, Creative Expression and Comparative Literature, or Language Attitudes and Language Policies, and share their findings to contribute to future research in neuroscience. Singapore, then Vietnam, are the first target destinations for their study, including a volunteering gig at a future summer camp in Vietnam in July 2024 to join the Rotary Vietnam Project District 5170 and the Pacific Links Foundation in their mission to "Prevent human trafficking and give youth the future they deserve."

In my long career in high-tech spanning Europe, the US, and Asia, I have coached hundreds of young people in many languages and have always encouraged them to follow their dreams, even when it would mean journeying through roads less traveled. I am impressed by their determination, energy, and profound desire to make the world a better place through science and innovation.

They need funds for airfare, lodging and accommodation, meals, equipment, books, and supplies for their research for 4 to 6 months. Depending on the total amount eventually raised, they will spend more or less time in Singapore, where the cost of living is much higher than in Vietnam.

Please join me in helping them make their first big dreams a reality.

Phac Le Tuan

-----------------------------------------------------------------

My name is Angelie Nguyen, and I am a high school junior with a deep passion for both the Chinese language and neuroscience. As a student who is graduating six months early, I am eager to use this extra time to embark on a study abroad project in Singapore. I am hoping to spend four to six months in Singapore, where I can gain valuable experience in my fields of interest and further develop my skills and knowledge.

My interest in the Chinese language and culture began several years ago and has since grown into a fascination that I would like to develop further. I am constantly seeking ways to improve my Chinese vocabulary, writing, and speaking skills. Immersing myself in a culturally rich and diverse environment such as Singapore would be an excellent opportunity to achieve this goal along with broadening my understanding of the world and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds.

In addition to my interest in the Chinese language and culture, I am also deeply passionate about neuroscience. The study of the brain and its functions has always fascinated me, and I am eager to explore this field further. My long-term goal is to become a neuroscientist and make a significant contribution to the field. An area of research that is of particular interest to me is the study of the brain among individuals who are fluent in multiple languages. Conducting research in this area while in Singapore could potentially yield valuable insights into cognitive resillence, reserve, and compensation. Additionally, my research could involve conducting interviews with individuals in Singapore to collect data points that could be utilized for future studies. This endeavor has the potential to contribute to a growing body of knowledge in the field of neuroscience and ultimately lead to a better understanding of the brain's plasticity and how it works.

As a result of my previous academic studies and experiences, I have developed a keen interest in studying in Singapore. Specifically, I have taken several high school STEM courses, including AP Calculus AB and BC, AP Physics 2, and Introductory Neuroscience at Mission College. Additionally, I attended Tian Tian Chinese School in Milpitas for a few years and completed up to the 5th-grade level in June 2022. My experience there provided me with a strong foundation in the Chinese language, and I am currently self-studying HSK level 4.

With this in mind, I believe that studying abroad in Singapore would provide me with a unique opportunity to achieve my goals. My specific objectives for the study abroad program in Singapore include further developing my Chinese language skills and exploring neuroscience in a new and diverse setting. I plan to connect my interest in neuroscience with my studies in the Chinese language and culture by seeking out courses and programs that focus on the intersection of these fields. As Singapore is home to some of the world's leading universities, I am particularly interested in studying at a top university or participating in courses or programs that offer opportunities to engage with local experts and researchers, such as a neuroscience research internship.

Study abroad programs can be a significant catalyst for personal and academic growth. It allows students to expand their horizons, gain new perspectives, and develop a range of skills that are critical for success in today's globalized world. In my case, I strongly believe that this study abroad program is vital for my personal and academic growth. It would enable me to immerse myself in a new culture, enhance my language skills, and gain practical experience in my field of interest. However, study abroad programs can be expensive, and resources can be limited. As such, I would be grateful for any funding or resources that could be provided, as well as any connections to programs and opportunities in Singapore.

Any insights and data I gather from my research will be documented in a detailed report that I will present to my sponsors upon my return. This report will not only outline my findings but will also include an analysis of the methods used and the results obtained. I plan to discuss the significance of my research within the context of existing knowledge and identify areas for further investigation. Moreover, as an aspiring neuroscientist, I understand the importance of effective communication and disseminating research results. My report will, therefore, be written in clear and concise language, free of jargon, and accessible to a broad audience. This report will not only provide insights into the specific area of research but also contribute to the body of knowledge in the broader field of neuroscience.

The opportunity to study abroad in Singapore and develop my interests in the Chinese language and neuroscience both excites and daunts me. While I am confident in my ability to adapt to new surroundings and thrive in a challenging academic environment, I am also aware that there will be obstacles and difficulties along the way. However, I am willing to push myself out of my comfort zone, knowing that this experience would not only be an incredible opportunity for me but would also help me to grow as a person and enable me to make a significant contribution to society in the future. I appreciate your consideration of my request and the opportunity to pursue my academic interests.

Angelie Nguyen

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When I was in my sophomore year of high school, a speaker came to lecture on

post-graduate career choices; out of all he said, what echoed in my head most was the amazingness of the opportunity to study abroad and how more than ever, this was the perfect time for it. When I started to undertake my Chinese studies more seriously and in-depth, Singapore became known to me as more than simply the international hub with massive new advances but a place of opportunity. In my mind's eye, the idea of the country became cultivated over time as the ultimate place for a unique pre-college experience where I could immerse myself in learning more of the Chinese language and culture.

I first started my Mandarin studies many years ago at the behest of my grandparents and at first, the language had little importance to me. Still, as I retired from Vietnamese studies and kept Spanish for school credit. Mandarin heightened itself to be the language I most enjoyed learning and felt the most dedicated to. My knowledge of the culture behind the language had been extremely limited, so I found ways to extend what I knew: I joined my high school's Chinese Culture Club; read up on traditional and modern customs; and most fun for me I searched for Chinese literature and read recommendations from friends. As a student living by American curricula, it was beyond novel to immerse myself in foremost traditional works like Journey to the West to encroaching modernism in Lu Xun's works to the most intrinsically contemporary in my friends' well-loved web novel and manhua suggestions. Reading more and more opened my eyes to the sheer potential of what I could experience out there in the world in a place where Chinese culture reigned supreme and I could learn of it to its fullest.

ln Singapore, possibilities lie in abundance from career-orientated, as per witnessing the country's latest contributions to neuroscience and broader biology, and even an internship in an organization dealing with biotechnology innovation. There also lies the possibility of research in gaining access to resources and information only obtainable in Singapore itself, whether it may be historical records to thes more nuanced, such as with interactions with people and immersive cultural encounters that would not be available in America just by virtue of America being America. Whether in Singapore I would be embarking upon an intensive research project, reading more literature and fully discussing what I read with the people around me, or just seeing what the country has to offer, it remains an undeniable fact that there are endless prospects.

In a 4-6 month period, I hope to be able to build upon what I know of neuroscience and cross-cultural experiences, particularly of bilingualism, to add to related research on the subject matters. But my future position as a recent graduate leaves me with more limitations concerning funding and resources. Study abroad programs, more often than not, are costly; I would be thankful for any sponsorship that could be provided from funds to connections in Singapore that may help me access new opportunities. Ultimately, I hope to finish a research project with a report on my experiences.

Embarking on a vastly new experience is intimidating but also thrilling in itself. But the idea of being able to venture from my comfort zone and make discoveries for many others to learn from is what drives me to pursue such a program. I greatly thank you for taking the time to consider my requests and for the opportunity to pursue my academic interests.

Angelina Nguyen