Lusangelis

Because of extra weight given for Advanced Placement classes, including Mandarin, Lusangelis’s suburban high school transcript shows a GPA of 102. After she transferred to a school in the city, her transcript added more AP classes, as well as Science Research. Her new GPA: 102.8. This on top of leadership posts in a range of youth groups and deep involvement with scientific issues, public policy matters, including immigration, and a bit of painting on the side. “I think sometimes I have too many interests,” she says with a laugh. An immigrant from Venezuela as a young child, she is a deep believer in diversity. “Learning different perspectives truly enriches everyone’s learning,” she wrote, “and I look forward to this in college.” One of her interests is the study of neurodegenerative diseases. “Throughout my research,” she wrote, “I have maintained my sense of excitement about not only studying the brain’s complex makeup, but also the possibility of understanding how the brain can help transform the world of medicine.” Not that her horizons are only scientific; asked about one of her university choices, she replied that one of its attractions for her was that it has both a medical school and a law school. Why? So that she can volunteer to help out immigrants, whether through legal aid or by helping “bridge the gap between the medical community and the immigrant community.”  The writer of one of her recommendations summed up: “If my daughter grows up to be half the woman Lusangelis is, I would be happy.”

Lusangelis selected her high school counselor from freshman to junior year, before she changed schools, to be honored. “Claire Mayer,” she wrote, “has always been there to support and cheer me on.” Even after Lusangelis changed schools, “she was always ready to continue helping me.”

Many thanks to Janny Scott’s pod for supporting Lusangelis’ college journey. Pod members:  Ellen and Moshe Adler, Catherine Hart and Mark Stoeckle, Joe Lelyveld, Janny Scott, Elizabeth Marks, Harry Ostrer, Amy Stursberg.