changed class size

nginx.conf

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ location / {
 
 # Transcript PDF
 location /transcript {
-    try_files /transcripts/FallTranscript2025.pdf =404;
+    try_files /transcripts/JanuaryTranscript2026.pdf =404;
 }
 
 # Brag sheet PDF
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@ location /wright-application {
     try_files /wright-application/main.pdf =404;
 }
 
+location /wright-application-full {
+    try_files /wright-application/WrightFinal.pdf =404;
+}
+
+
 
 location /rsi-application-beta {
     try_files /rsi-application/main.pdf =404;

resume/main.tex

@@ -205,8 +205,8 @@
 \vspace{0.10 cm}
 \begin{onecolentry}
 	\begin{highlights}
-		\item GPA: 4.73/4.0 (\href{https://resume.keshavanand.net/transcript}{View Unnoficial Transcript})
+		\item GPA: 4.78571/4.0, Unweighted: 4.0/4.0 (\href{https://resume.keshavanand.net/transcript}{View Unnoficial Transcript})
-		\item Class Rank: \textbf{1/1273}
+		\item Class Rank: \textbf{2/1255}
 		\item \textbf{Current Coursework:} AP Chemistry, American Studies (AP US History + AP English Language), Digital Electronics, AP Physics I, Calculus III (via Collin College)
 		\item SAT: 1550/1600 — Reading 760/800, Maths 790/800
 		\item ACT: 36/36 — Maths 36, Reading 36, Science 36, English 35

wright-application/essays/extracurriculars.tex

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-\begin{itemize}
+\begin{enumerate}
 	\item \textbf{First Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics, Co-Captain, Software Lead} (9th–11th Grade): Co-captain for a community robotics team with fully custom robot design and software. Won multiple local awards for software and hardware innovation, becoming a regional and state finalist alliance team and ranked top-30 globally for the autonomous section. Mentored over 200 students across various platforms.
 
 	\item \textbf{Simply Stir Research Project} (9th Grade): Completed independent research on harvesting thermal energy to power a self-stirring pot. Won 1st place in Engineering Technology at regional science fair, within the top 9 overall projects (\$300). Also won US Metric Association Best SI Units and US Air Force Certificate of Recognition. Advanced as a finalist to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
@@ -13,13 +13,17 @@
 
 	\item \textbf{Original Music Arrangement and Composition} (9th–11th Grade): Composed and arranged original film music using self-taught skills in music production, keyboard, and bass guitar. Collaborated with local artists and a renowned Tamil film music composer.
 
-	\item \textbf{National Honor Society (NHS) Member} (10th–11th Grade): Volunteered by judging middle school debate tournaments, organizing school-wide service events, and tutoring underclassmen in STEM subjects. Produced educational resources in Calculus and Chemistry through the school tutoring program.
+	\item \textbf{NSDA Certified Debate Judge} (9th–11th Grade): Judged local Middle School debate tournaments in a fair and unbiased manner. Judged events include Extemporaneous Speaking, Congressional Debate, Public Forum Debate, Duo Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, and Original Oratory.
+
+	\item \textbf{ACE Tutoring Officer} (10th–11th Grade): Tutoring officer for Calculus and Math in 10th grade, and Chemistry in 11th grade. Published study material and practice tests for studying students, and hosted live review sessions for live Q\&A. As officer, managed other guides to ensure that resources are top-quality.
 
 	\item \textbf{NHS Technology Officer} (11th Grade): Served as Technology Officer for the largest NHS chapter worldwide. Built a React-based full-stack web portal to streamline member management, event coordination, and service hour tracking using QR codes and a Firebase database.
 
+	\item \textbf{National Honor Society (NHS) Member} (10th–11th Grade):
+
 	\item \textbf{Math Club} (9th–11th Grade): Competed in local math competitions, including AMC 10/12 and AIME (1× qualifier).
 
 	\item \textbf{Founder of School’s Cricket Club} (11th Grade): Founded and organized the school’s first competitive cricket club, coordinating practices, matches, and logistics. Expanded participation to over 30 members and introduced 15 new players to the sport.
 
 	\item \textbf{Owner of Class Discord Server} (9th–11th Grade): Founded and managed a class Discord server for studying and resource sharing. Supported over 150 active members with structured subject channels, live study sessions, and teacher-supported moderation.
-\end{itemize}
+\end{enumerate}

wright-application/essays/leadership.tex

@@ -1,31 +1,15 @@
 \begin{enumerate}
-	\item I founded the Cricket Club at my current high school. As a founder, I was responsible for
+	\item I am the founder and president of the Cricket Club at my current high school. I identified a gap in our school's athletic program and built the Cricket Club into a sustainable organization with over 25 active members. As the founder, I marketed the club through Instagram campaigns and personal networks to recruit members. I planned and implemented biweekly practices while serving as both a player and coach, helping new members overcome the sport’s steep learning curve. This required coordinating schedules and logistics for more than 25 members per practice. As a first-year organization, I also worked to bridge the skill gap between experienced players and beginners to ensure an inclusive and enjoyable experience for all members.
-	      popularizing the club itself by recruiting members and advertising through Instagram and word-of-mouth. I
+
-	      organized practice sessions and I had to act as both a player and a coach, teaching new players the rules and
+	\item I serve as Co-Captain and Software Lead for my school's First Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics team. As the sole programmer on our initially rookie team, I developed the entire competition robot codebase from scratch. When funding became a challenge, I secured a \$750 sponsorship from Texas Instruments through multi-faceted outreach. As the team expanded, I recruited new members based on programming and engineering needs. Once the team grew to five programmers, I restructured our workflow by creating a GitHub organization with multiple repositories to support collaboration and version control. I delegated tasks and managed development timelines, and I led documentation of software iterations and technical innovations that contributed to winning the Innovate and Control awards.
-	      pushing them through the sport's steep learning curve. Each practice itself proved a hurdle, as I had to
+
-	      find enough people to play at a common place and time, manage equipment, and ensure that everyone was engaged.
+	\item I serve as Vice President (and former underclassmen president) of my school's Science Fair Club. I lead biweekly lunch meetings for over 90 active members, collaborating with fellow officers to design engaging activities and delivering 35--40 minute presentations on key aspects of science fair projects. I have developed instructional materials covering project brainstorming, methodology, data analysis, and trifold design. I also provide one-on-one mentorship via email and in-person consultations, helping students navigate project decisions based on my competition experience. Drawing from my own initial intimidation with the process, I design presentations to lower the barrier to entry and make science fair more accessible to new students.
-	      Due to the nature of a first year club, I had to help bridge the high delta between experienced and new players,
+
-	      ensuring that everyone had fun while still being challenged. Then, I had to organize matches with other
+	\item From halfway through my 9th grade to the present, I have founded, owned, and maintained a Discord study server for my school's class of 2027. As the server owner, I oversee eight democratically elected moderators and have implemented systems to ensure all members have a voice in decision-making. Because online disputes can escalate quickly, I frequently act as a neutral arbitrator to mediate conflicts. I have invested over 300 hours into managing the server, which at its peak supported over 50\% of the student body and more than 100 active members.
-	      local high school teams, which involved coordinating with their club leaders, arranging transportation, and
+
-	      managing logistics. Through sponsorships from local businesses and colleges (UTD, RICE, DBU), I was able to
+	\item I serve as the Chemistry Officer (and former Math Officer) for my school's tutoring club, ACE. My primary responsibility is supervising student volunteers who create Chemistry review materials by delegating units and topics and reviewing all resources for accuracy and clarity. I also organize and monitor live AP Chemistry tutoring sessions, both in person and via Zoom, serving 20--30 students per session. My most demanding responsibility is stepping in to complete unfinished materials or host sessions when volunteers are unavailable, requiring flexible availability to ensure uninterrupted academic support.
-	      fund equipment and provide support for club matches.
+
-	\item I serve as the Co-Captain and Software Lead for my school's First Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics team.
+	\item I serve as the Technology Officer for my school's National Honor Society chapter. In addition to managing technical responsibilities, I moderate service events involving over 200 student volunteers, overseeing participant behavior and ensuring effective execution of service activities. I also represent my chapter at leadership conferences such as LEAD, where I collaborate with officers from other NHS chapters to exchange and develop leadership strategies.
-	      As the only programmer of our initially rookie team, I was fully writing out every line of code for our robot.
+
-	      However, funds became a major hurdle, so I also filled in to help secure a \$750 sponsorship from Texas Instruments
+	\item In my freshman year, I served as an officer for my school's Math Club. I presented approximately one-quarter of weekly meetings to over 15 students, designing and delivering engaging lessons on mathematical applications such as card tricks and calculator programming. I was also responsible for maintaining detailed attendance records to track eligibility requirements for the Mu Alpha Theta honor society.
-	      through outreach events. As our team grew, I had to take on recruiting of new members, carefully selecting students who
-	      would be a good fit for our programming and engineering needs. Once our team reached 5 programmers, I fully
-	      transformed our repository into a GitHub organization, with multiple repositories
-	      for each team member to experiment with
-	      hands-on. I also had to delegate specific tasks and manage deadlines to ensure that our software development stayed on track.
-	      For the FTC competition, I was also in charge
-	      of documenting our software iterations and innovations, which proved crucial in winning multiple awards
-	      for software design and innovation.
-	\item I am the Vice President (and former underclassmen president) of my school's Science Fair Club.
-	      As an officer, it is my role to fully lead and plan our club's biweekly lunch meetings. This involves brainstorming engaging
-	      activities with other officers, and preparing 35-40 minutes detailed presentations on various aspects of science fair projects.
-	      I have prepared extensive materials on project brainstorming, project methodology, data analysis, and trifold tips to help guide
-	      over 90 active club members. Additionally, I help students one-on-one through email or in-person (after meetings) to share
-	      my experience to help students make the right decisions. Finally, as a student who has been intimidated by
-	      the science fair process, I plan and cater my presentations to help lower the barrier to entry for new students and underclassmen,
-	      recruiting members by making science fair more approachable.
 \end{enumerate}

wright-application/essays/stem.tex

@@ -5,58 +5,23 @@ I have had a strong passion towards STEM activities since middle school, and I b
 to fully utilize the research platforms and opportunities provided by AFRL.
 
 \begin{enumerate}
-	\item From 9th to 11th grade, I have been an active member of my community First Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics team, serving as
+	\item From 9th to 11th grade, I served as Co-Captain and Software Lead for my community's First Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics team. Starting freshman year with no programming experience, I taught myself Java through the FTC SDK and progressed to developing fully functional robot code that contributed to our team reaching the State Finals and winning the Area Innovate Award for a fully automated hang mechanism. Over the following two years, I significantly deepened my technical contributions. By applying calculus concepts from the classroom, I engineered a custom autonomous pathing system using trigonometry, inverse kinematics, and PID control for precise robot movement. I also developed a custom TensorFlow object detection model, achieving a 100\% match success rate across all competitions. These innovations helped our team win our league championship, captain an Area Finalist alliance, and rank in the global top 30 for autonomous performance.
-	      Co-Captain and Software Lead. I started in my freshman year from square one, knowing no programming languages or
+
-	      concepts. Slowly, I picked up Java through the FTC SDK, and I eventually started writing functional code for our robot. As the
+	\item In 9th grade, my independent Science Fair research project qualified as a finalist at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). The project originated from a simple idea: using waste thermal energy from a cooking pot to power a mechanical stirring system. Through this process, I learned about thermoelectric generators (TEGs) and the Seebeck effect. Applying CAD and simulation concepts from my engineering coursework, I designed an aluminum enclosure integrating a TEG, heat sink, and motor to convert heat energy into mechanical motion. I also developed an electrical measurement system using voltage and current sensors to analyze performance relative to temperature differentials. My prototype won 1st place in Engineering Technology at my regional science fair, along with special awards from the U.S. Metric Association and the U.S. Air Force Certificate of Recognition. At ISEF, I presented my work to professors and domain experts from around the world and received valuable feedback to improve my design.
-	      season had progressed, I had become a decent programmer, and our team was able to win as a State Finalist alliance team and
+
-	      Area Innovate Award Winner for a unique fully-automated hang mechanism. In the following two years, I ramped up my
+	\item In 10th grade, my Science Fair research project earned 3rd place in Robotics and Intelligent Machines at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Motivated by relatives affected by Parkinson’s Disease, I explored machine learning approaches to assist with gait and tremor analysis. Using publicly available datasets, I designed a novel signal processing algorithm capable of accurately classifying gait patterns with low inference latency. After training and testing multiple models, I expanded the project by creating a physical prototype. With guidance from my engineering teacher, I designed a custom PCB featuring an ESP32 microcontroller and an IMU sensor capable of performing real-time inference. Through independent study of academic literature and online tutorials, I taught myself Python and C++. Initially a multiple regional winner, the project won 1st place in Systems Software, the TI Best Computing Project Award, and 2nd Grand Prize, qualifying me for ISEF for a second year. At ISEF, it earned 3rd place in Robotics and Intelligent Machines, along with a \$1{,}200 award.
-	      time commitment and progressed my skills. By applying the Calculus knowledge I was learning in the classroom, I was
+
-	      able to implement a fully custom autonomous pathing system for our robot, using trigonometry, inverse kinematics, and
+	\item This year, I maintained a full-time home server by repurposing a decade-old laptop running Ubuntu Linux. Through hands-on experimentation, I self-learned bash scripting, networking, Linux administration, and service management. I deployed a Matrix messaging server for student communication, a Git server for code hosting, and an SSH service with a custom interactive shell displaying my portfolio. Despite more than one million automated attacks within two months, my hardened security measures prevented intrusion attempts, providing practical experience in networking, cybersecurity, and infrastructure management.
-	      PID control to achieve precise movement. In addition, I tinkered with computer vision, developing a custom TensorFlow model
+
-	      for failsafe object detection (with 100\% match success). Our team went on to champion our league, become an Area Finalist
+	\item In 9th grade, I qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) through the AMC 10 competition. Through self-study using online resources, I developed strong problem-solving skills focused on logical reasoning, speed, and optimization. I participated in and placed at multiple math competitions, including Purple Comet and Math League. I also contribute solutions on the Art of Problem Solving forum using \LaTeX{} to clearly communicate my reasoning. Additionally, I create Geometry and Calculus problems for use in my school’s ACE tutoring club.
-	      captain, and place in the global top-30 for autonomous performance.
+
-	\item In my 9th grade, my independent research project for Science Fair qualified as a finalist project for the prestigious
+	\item During my 10th grade, I developed a real-time audio visualization program for live musical performances. I built a Python pipeline that converts MIDI input to audio using a piano VST, then processes the signal through the Librosa library to extract and visualize frequency content via Fast Fourier Transforms. By leveraging MIDI’s low-latency input, the system achieves near-instant visual response, enabling live performers to generate professional concert visuals without expensive hardware or post-production software.
-	      International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). My project started from a very simple idea of utilizing available thermal energy
+
-	      in a cooking pot to also stir the contents (to save energy for cooking). From here, I learned about the world of
+	\item During my 10th-grade year, I developed a web-based utility application for debate tournaments using React and TypeScript to address operational inefficiencies. I designed precise timing software with graphical notifications and audio alerts, as well as an automated presiding officer system using the WebSocket API to synchronize moderators and competitors in real time. The application has been adopted and positively reviewed by national finalists and members of my school’s debate team.
-	      thermoelectric generators (TEGs) and the Seebeck effect. Applying the CAD and simulation concepts I learned from my
+
-	      Engineering class in school, I designed an aluminum enclosure that used a TEG, a heat sink, and a motor to convert heat
+	\item Over the past three years, I completed four online courses covering Java, Bash, and Python. Because I did not receive formal instruction in programming languages, these courses were instrumental in enabling me to independently complete and extend my technical projects.
-	      energy into mechanical stirring. I also learned about electrical circuits as I used a voltage and current sensor to effectively
+
-	      graph my TEG's performance relative to the temperature differential. My final prototype, although simple, was able to win
+	\item From 9th to 11th grade, I consistently practiced competitive programming by solving LeetCode and USACO problems in Java. Through this problem-oriented approach, I strengthened my understanding of arrays, recursion, data structures, and time complexity optimization.
-	      1st in Engineering Technology at my regional science fair, where I also won a special awards through the US Metric Association and
+
-	      the US Air Force Certificate of Recognition. At ISEF, I was able to present to domain experts and professors from
+	\item In the fall of my 11th grade, I completed ethical hacking challenges on Hack The Box (HTB). Using a Kali Linux virtual machine, I gained root access on vulnerable machines, learning core cybersecurity concepts including enumeration, establishing footholds, and privilege escalation.
-	      around the world, gaining valuable insights and feedback to later improve my prototype and project.
-	\item In my 10th grade, my research project for Science Fair won 3rd in Robotics and Intelligent Machines at the
-	      highly-competitive International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
-	      After seeing many relatives of mine struggle with Parkinson's Disease, I wanted to help create a solution that could help them.
-	      Through research, I encountered an interesting method of using machine learning to aid in both walking and tremors. Using
-	      online published datasets, I applied a novel online signal processing approach that ensured real-time classification of
-	      gait patterns. After training multiple models and testing them through cross-validation, I ended up with a fully functional model
-	      with high accuracy and low inference times. However, I wanted to take this a step further and create a physical prototype. Using
-	      my engineering teacher's help, I designed a custom PCB with an ESP32 microcontroller and an IMU sensor, which I programmed
-	      to collect real time data to feed to my model. By using online resources and reading published literature methods, I was able to
-	      self-teach myself the needed Python and C++ to fully implement my working solution. My novel approach was recognized at the regional level,
-	      where I won 1st in Systems Software, TI Best Computing Project, and 2nd Grand Prize (qualifying me to ISEF). At ISEF, domain experts were
-	      equally impressed with my work, and I was awarded 3rd place in Robotics and Intelligent Machines, along with a \$1200 award.
-	\item This year, I have started a passion project in maintaining a full-time server. After repurposing a decade-old budget laptop,
-	      I installed an Ubuntu Linux OS onto my machine and setup a home server. From here, I slowly the basics of bash scripting,
-	      networking, Linux, and service management through a hands-on approach. I set up multiple services, including a
-	      Matrix client used by my friends for communicating while in school. I also set up a Git server to host my code,
-	      which taught me a lot about permissions and how servers actually interact with clients. Most recently, I set up an
-	      SSH service which allows users to view a shell interactive I made to display my portfolio. While this extremely risky
-	      ,with over 1 million attacks in two months, I have learned a lot about security measured, and none of the attacks have
-	      been successful due to my proactive measures. While my server is mostly used for tinkering, I have learned a lot about
-	      networking and computing fundamentals through this project.
-	\item In my 9th Grade, I started taking on competition math to challenge myself, qualifying for the AIME (American Invitational
-	      Mathematics Examination) through AMC 10. After self-studying through online resources and textbooks, I learned the art of
-	      solving math problems in a intuitive, creative, and timely manner. Not only did I learn advanced math concepts, but I also
-	      learned the critical logical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to tackle complex problems. I have also
-	      competed and placed in local math competitions, including Purple Comet and Math League. As I encounter these problems
-	      through the online community Art of Problem Solving (AoPS), I have also started contributing solutions to problems.
-	      I learned how to clearly and concisely explain my thought process and solutions in LaTeX format,
-	      helping other students understand my unique approach to these complex problems. Within my high school, I also
-	      contribute challenging problems through our tutoring club, ACE, to help students in Geometry and Calculus.
-	      %//TODO: SHORTEN BOTH ABOVE??
-	\item % MIDI AND AUDIO
-	\item % Debate congrews app
-    \item % Self LEarnign courses and LEet code, etc.??
 \end{enumerate}

wright-application/essays/work.tex

@@ -1,55 +1,13 @@
-% Describe any paid or volunteer work experience and include your responsibilities. Provide examples of strong work ethic (such as no unexcused
-% absences or reprimands, completes assigned tasks, works well with others, etc). If no formal work experience, provide detailed description of the
-% effort involved in a major school project (include grade awarded, teamwork involved, how you overcame challenges).
-
-
-
 \begin{enumerate}
-	\item I have been working for a local ticketed nonprofit band for three years as a Keyboard player.
+	\item I have been working for a local ticketed nonprofit band for three years as a keyboard player. As a musician, I am expected to fully practice my parts individually to a level of near-mastery. Each concert requires at least three to four section rehearsals, where I coordinate closely with other musicians in my section to ensure synchronization. Teamwork can be challenging, as each musician often has differing opinions on interpretation, but I have learned to contribute respectfully and avoid conflict by focusing discussions on the music itself. Full-band rehearsals are mandatory for every performance, and attendance is critical, as each musician contributes to the final cohesion of the piece. I have attended every rehearsal and performance without a single absence or reprimand. Although performances generate revenue through ticket sales, all proceeds are donated to local charities, and I take pride in knowing that my work supports those in need.
-	      As a musician, I am expected to fully practice my parts individually to a level of near-mastery. Each concert will demand at least
+
-	      3-4 section practices, where I have to coordinate with other musicians in my section to ensure that we are in sync.
+	\item For three years, I have served as an NSDA-certified judge for middle school debate tournaments in my local area. My responsibilities include evaluating debaters on argumentation quality, speaking style, and providing constructive written feedback. Each tournament lasts an entire day, during which I often judge six or more rounds with minimal breaks. I am expected to remain focused and impartial throughout, as bias would undermine the integrity of the competition. Once I confirm availability, I am required to judge all assigned rounds, as tournaments depend on strict schedules. One of my greatest challenges has been setting aside personal political views when judging arguments I strongly agree or disagree with. I overcame this by prioritizing argument structure, evidence, and delivery over content. In addition to judging, I help write topics, review updated rules, and report behavioral incidents. Overall, I have judged over 50 rounds without a single absence, and I strive to be a fair and consistent adjudicator.
-	      Teamwork is a relative struggle, and each of us has differing opinions on the best way to play a specific piece. I
+
-	      have learned to offer my input respectfully and to avoid heated arguments by focusing on the music itself. Full band
+	\item During my 11th grade, I volunteered as my school’s NHS Technology Officer. As my school has over 1{,}000 members in its NHS chapter, service hour logging must be handled digitally through a highly performant database. As Technology Officer, I am responsible for maintaining both the database and the full-stack portal UI used by members to log and track service hours. One of my duties is attending every service event hosted, as any technical failure could disrupt hour logging for hundreds of students. Additionally, handling sensitive student information, including emails and passwords, requires strict confidentiality. Given the number of students impacted by this system, I hold myself highly accountable and ensure consistent availability to debug and resolve technical issues.
-	      practices are also held for each performance, where attendance is absolutely mandatory. Each musician contributes to the final song,
+
-	      and missing a practice would lead to a lack of cohesion in the final performance. In this band, I ensure that I attend every
+	\item In my 10th and 11th grades, I volunteered as a tutor to support struggling students at my high school. Through my school’s ACE tutoring program and my independently run study Discord server, I have supported students in Calculus, Chemistry, and History. Each session requires careful preparation to ensure concepts are explained intuitively. I have consistently received positive feedback and always prioritize student understanding and academic growth. Working with academically challenged students has required me to adapt my teaching methods, and I strive to guide students toward mastery of each subject.
-	      practice and performance, and I have never had an absence or reprimand. Although our final work is paid through ticket sales,
+
-	      all revenue is donated to local charities, and I take pride in knowing that my work is helping those in need.
+	\item For my FTC outreach, I volunteered as both a mentor and a field referee. As a mentor, my role is to keep students engaged and support their technical growth. Working primarily with middle school students, I guide them by providing curated resources such as documentation and instructional links so they can continue learning independently. As a field referee, my responsibility is to accurately track scored elements and penalties. Because fouls can be a source of controversy, I also mediate disputes between teams and handle referrals calmly and respectfully. I always strive to officiate fairly and uphold the integrity of the competition.
-	\item For three years, I have been an NSDA certified judge, judging Middle School Debate tournaments in my local area.
+
-	      My duties include evaluating debaters on argumentation, speaking style, and providing constructive feedback to help them improve.
+	\item In my 9th grade, I founded a tutoring company to teach middle school students competitive mathematics. The service emphasized a problem-based approach rather than traditional topic-based instruction, focusing on critical thinking and problem-solving skills. As the sole operator, I was responsible for recruiting clients, scheduling sessions, and preparing lesson plans.
-	      Each tournament lasts a full day, and I am expected to judge numerous rounds (at times six or more) with minimal breaks.
-	      Not only do I have to maintain focus and attention throughout the day, but I also have to judge impartially,
-	      as not doing so would completely undermine the integrity of the tournament. After updating availability, I cannot
-	      drop out of a tournament or a round, as the tournament relies on a planned agenda to run smoothly. My greatest hurdle has
-	      been setting aside my own political bias, as I have heard numerous speeches and arguments supporting views I both
-	      strongly agree and disagree with. I overcame this challenge by shifting the criteria at those times to the efficacy of argument
-	      and speaking style, rather than the content itself.
-	      Outside of judging I am responsible for for writing topics for each tournament, reviewing all updated rules and topics,
-	      and reporting behavioral incidents. Overall, I have judged over 50 rounds of debate without a single absence, and I
-	      hope that I have been a fair adjudicator of the activity I love.
-	\item For the last three years, I have been tutoring in math and science on and off. I initially started tutoring
-	      competition math to middle schoolers through my own paid company I had started when in middle school.
-	      The tutoring service was unique, offering a problem-based approach instead of a topic-based approach, prioritizing
-	      problem-solving skills and critical thinking. As I was the
-	      only person running the tutoring service, I had to find my own clients, schedule sessions, and prepare lesson plans.
-	      Halfway through my ninth grade, I only had one customer, so I decided to pivot my skills to instead offer free tutoring
-	      to my peers in my high school. Through my school's ACE tutoring program and my own study Discord server,
-	      I have been able to help numerous students in
-	      Calculus, Chemistry, and even history. Each session requires significant preparation, as I have to explain
-	      the concepts in an intuitive manner that struggling students can understand. So far, I have received positive feedback
-	      from my students, and I always prioritize their learning and understanding above all else.
-	\item From halfway in my 9th grade to now, I have started, owned, and am fully maintaining a Discord study server for our school's
-	      student class of 2027. As the owner, I am fully responsible for a managing a team of 8 voted moderators, and I have
-	      to ensure that everybody's voices are heard. As the server is run through Discord, arguments and disagreements can
-	      easily escalate, so I have to step in as a neutral party to mediate and resolve conflicts. It was through these Discord
-	      "blow-ups" that I started learning how to be a better leader and work with others. I have poured over 300 hours into
-	      this server, managing over 100 active members. Housing over 50\% of the class (at its peak) was a daunting task, and I
-	      had to deal with revolts and mass exodus of members multiple times. From arguments about the "wetness of water" to
-	      kicking me out of my own server, I have seen and managed all of these conflicts. Now, our server is a stable and 
-          thriving community, with valuable study resources, popular group study calls, and constant member engagement through 
-          general (and of-topic) text channels.
-	\item % NHS officer work!!.. AYNY VOLUNTEER OR PAID WORK
-	\item % Robotics team work?
-	\item % Science fair club officer work?
-	\item % Cricket club work?
-	\item
 \end{enumerate}

wright-application/stem-essay/main.tex

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 % Settings:
 \pagestyle{empty} % no header or footer
 \setlength{\parindent}{0.5in} % standard paragraph indentation
-\setlength{\parskip}{0pt} % no space between paragraphs
+\setlength{\parskip}{6pt} % no space between paragraphs
 \singlespacing % single spacing
 \frenchspacing % Better spacing after periods
 
@@ -57,56 +57,66 @@
 
 
 \vspace{12pt}
+28 Squiggly red underlines. Nearly every line of my code had errors. Null
+pointers, incompatible types, undefined variables, Gradle sync errors: I had
+encountered them all. It was February 2024, my freshman year, and we had ten
+minutes to take the field for our First Tech Challenge (FTC) League Finals.
+My heart pounded as keys clattered beneath my flying fingers. My code was
+broken, and for the finals, it had to work. The merciless clock ticked away,
+and with seconds to go, I finally compiled the code. There was no time to
+test, hardly any to breathe. We took the field, and my finger hovered over
+the play button. Time paused. The buzzer sounded, and I pressed play. Success.
+In two minutes and thirty seconds, we won.
 
-% Essay content begins here
+Seven months earlier, I didn't know what a variable was. I was fully into
-294 squiggly red underlines. Nearly every line of my code had errors. Null pointers,
+music, and programming was yet to cross my radar. When my friend started a
-incompatible types, undefined variables, Gradle sync errors---I had seen it all, and each error felt like a
+robotics team, I joined on a whim. It was that abrupt decision that started
-dissonant chord demanding resolution. It was February 2024, my freshman year, and we had ten minutes to
+my journey into robotics. Progress was painstakingly slow; it took me two
-take the field for our First Tech Challenge (FTC) final match. My heart raced as I thumped the keyboard in a
+full months to make a motor turn. But gradually, I became hooked. Like a
-frenzy. My code was broken, and for the final match, it had to work. Time raced faster than it ever used to, and
+sponge, I absorbed everything: tutorials, documentation, and even Stack
-I finally compiled the code.
+Overflow threads. Eventually, I taught myself enough Java to become a
-There was no time to test, hardly any to breathe, and before I knew it, we were on the field with my index
+functional FTC programmer.
-finger hovering over the large play button. Time paused. I heard the buzzer and pressed play. Success.
-In two minutes and thirty seconds, we became league champions.
 
-It was almost hard to believe that seven months back, I didn't know what a variable was.
+As the season progressed, we became a competitive team, and my knowledge was
-I was fully into music, and programming was not even an afterthought.
+expanding in parallel. On that competition day, something just clicked. It
-It was a mere coincidence that my neighbor (and good friend) decided to start a robotics team, and given the minimal investment, I
+wasn't the win that truly made me happy. It was the realization that my own
-joined. Like nearly all of my endeavors, my FTC journey began with a Google search. I was learning at a snail's pace, and it
+code produced tangible outputs. At that very moment, I knew that I wanted to
-had taken me two months to simply make a motor move. Soon, I was hooked. Like a sponge, I was absorbing everything I had to learn,
+continue working in a STEM field, and I was ready to keep coding on.
-and I had eventually taught myself enough Java to become a functional FTC programmer.
 
-As the season progressed, my sponge was
+But that readiness was tested in September 2024. Somewhat naively, I decided
-soaked, and we were a top competitive team by February. On competition day, the lightbulb within me finally clicked.
+to build a machine learning model to predict gait patterns in Parkinson's
-The joy I experienced wasn't just from our robot picking up and scoring pixels, but from the fact that the code I had recently learn to write
+Disease for my sophomore-year Science Fair project. The only problem is that
-was resulting in a tangible output that I could witness. It was that moment when I decided to pursue a STEM career. I was
+I had no clue how. So I dove in: Python syntax, NumPy arrays, signal filtering,
-no longer just a high school student; I was a STEM student, and I was ready to help change the world.
+feature extraction, and model architectures. I had entered unfamiliar territory,
+and each concept I learned brought new confusion. After two months of relentless
+reading, coding, and debugging, I managed to transform raw sensor data into a
+working classification model. Somewhere between the first error message and
+the final 96\% accuracy, I had begun to absorb a new discipline.
 
-But that readiness was tested in September 2024. In a spur of ambitious insanity,
+I could have stopped there, but I realized that a working model on my laptop
-I had committed to building a machine learning model to predict gait patterns in Parkinson's Disease for my sophomore-year
+wasn't going to help any Parkinson's patients, and I needed to embed my model
-Science Fair project. The problem: I had no clue how to. And so I learned. Python syntax, NumPy arrays, signal filtering,
+into a complete hardware device. This task was beyond daunting, as I had to
-feature extraction, and model architectures. I had entered a brand new domain, and each concept seemed to confuse me in a different way.
+venture into the foreign territory of hardware and electrical engineering.
-After two months of painfully laborious learning, coding, and debugging, I was finally able to transform raw sensor data into a
+With my engineering teacher guiding me, I eventually learned the basics. After
-functional and accurate classification model. Somewhere between the first error message and the final 96\% accuracy, I
+countless 2 AM KiCAD tutorial sessions, I finally had a working design for a
-had managed to absorb a new discipline by pushing myself into unfamiliar waters.
+custom printed circuit board (PCB) housing a sensor and microcontroller. Two
-
+weeks later, my PCB arrived, and after soldering all my components, it didn't
-If it weren't for my ambition, I would have stopped there. Unfortunately, I realized that a working model on my laptop
+work. My heart sank. In desperation, I resoldered each joint carefully and
-wasn't going to help any Parkinson's patients, and I needed to embed my model into a complete hardware device. This
+tried again. Somehow, it worked. After writing some C++ software for the
-task was beyond daunting, as I had to venture into the foreign land of hardware and electrical engineering. With my
+device, I had something that actually worked. The project eventually made it
-engineering teacher guiding me, I slowly learned everything I needed. After dozens of 2 AM KiCAD tutorial binge sessions,
+to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), placing 3rd in
-I finally had a working
+Robotics and Intelligent Machines. What struck me most wasn't the placement,
-design for a fully custom printed circuit board (PCB). Two weeks later, my PCB arrived, and after soldering all my
+but the fact that six months earlier, I wouldn't have understood any of it.
-components, it didn't work. My heart sank. I touched up all the joints with my soldering iron and tried again. Success.
-I wrote some quick software in C++, and I finally had a working end-to-end implementation for my final solution. After
-my project made it to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the judges were impressed by the full
-end-to-end implementation, and my efforts were finally rewarded when I won 3rd in Robotics and Intelligent Machines at ISEF.
-
-Throughout my high-school life, I have strived to constantly learn new things, which is why I am so excited about the
-Wright Scholar opportunity. From tinkering in my bed, I can start working on relevant research problems this Summer,
-which would exponentially increase my learning and comprehension of these subjects. From cutting-edge
-biomedical computing to sensor processing to cybersecurity, AFRL offers exciting venues for me to apply my knowledge.
-For a sponge who lives to learn, AFRL can serve as a reservoir of knowledge, and I can't wait to absorb new information with
-domain experts.
 
+Throughout high school, I've taught myself many disciplines, from FTC
+programming in Java to designing circuits. The Wright Scholar program provides
+an opportunity to apply my skills to current and critical research. I'm
+intrigued by AFRL's Sensors Directorate, where I hope to deepen my understanding
+of signal processing while contributing to sensor exploitation technologies.
+I'm equally drawn to Human Performance Wing's work with multimodal sensing to
+monitor and enhance human performance. Moreso, the chance to work alongside
+domain experts who can accelerate my growth as an engineer and developer is
+invaluable to me. Whether working with sensor fusion or biomedical sensing,
+as a sponge eager to learn, AFRL is exactly where I need to be.
 
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