A Q&A with Milpitas HS National Merit Scholar Semifinalists

Thomas Chen, 17, Milpitas High School

What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
Being named a National Merit semifinalist means that I scored high enough on the PSAT to be considered for this scholarship program, which I am honored to be a part of. It shows to universities that I have the critical thinking skills tested in this exam as well as the SAT, but is not a true representation of intelligence. 

What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
I motivate myself to succeed at a high level in anything I do, in part because of a competitive drive, but it would not be possible without the support of my family and friends. 

What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
I genuinely enjoy all my classes this year, but I usually prefer STEM courses, because problem solving and critical thinking are my strong suits. 

What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
I am applying to many UC's as well as private schools in-state and out-of-state, and would prefer to go to a school further from home to experience new things, but I am happy to attend any of the schools that take me. 

What does a Culture of WE mean to you?
​At MHS, my experience with a Culture of We has been extensive. From the consistent stream of different study groups, collaborating to help each other learn, to the different events hosted by our ASB, I definitely believe that collaboration and inclusivity are a big part of my experience at MHS. 

What do you need from MUSD this year?
This year, I hope for MUSD to provide me with consistent communication during the ever-changing times, as well as for teachers to be a little more understanding due to the circumstances many students have to deal with. 

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BassimaFaith Chouman, 17, Milpitas High School

​What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
Being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist, to me, is a reflection of my hard work, my mindset to put my best effort into everything that I do, and how far I've come in my academic career. I'm very proud of myself for achieving this title.

What / Who motives you to succeed at such a high level?
Living a successful life where I am not only able to provide for myself and my family, but also to people who live in war-torn or third-world countries and do not have the same opportunities as me, is what motivates me to succeed.

What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
My favorite subject in school is chemistry because you learn so many useful and interesting concepts and then apply what you learn in the lab.

What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
After graduating MHS, I would like to attend Harvard University because they have a great chemistry program, and in the future, I am looking to pursue a career as a cosmetic chemist.

What does a Culture of WE mean to you?
A Culture of WE, to me, means an inclusive community that ensures equal opportunity and access to beneficial resources for everyone. 

What do you need from MUSD this year?
I think that MUSD has already done a great job supporting their students and the community, especially given the current situation we are in of online schooling. 

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Lydia Wang, 17, Milpitas High School

What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
To me, being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist is a fulfilling honor to receive. I'm happy to see my best efforts being represented and as a semifinalist I hope to reflect MHS and its values in a positive way.

What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
I think what motivates me most is the fact that I have the most fun putting my best effort into things and seeing the results of my hard work click into place. Taking the PSAT was like another challenge for me to tackle and overcome. It might sound a little crazy, but the process was ultimately very rewarding and I'm glad to have received the opportunity to perform at my best.

What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
My favorite subject all around is probably biology! It's important in so many fascinating fields like technology, psychology and neuroscience. I feel like I am always hovering from one bio-related field to another, because they're all just that interesting. This year, I'm also particularly enjoying Music Theory and English.

What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?
I'm not completely decided yet, but I know that I'm interested in studying cognitive science/neuroscience after graduation.  Cog-sci truly incorporates my interests in neuroscience, linguistics and computation, so it seems like a perfect fit for me!

What does a Culture of WE mean to you?
I think a Culture of WE means an open, collaborative environment that celebrates differences. MHS benefits the most from the diverse viewpoints of its student body, so building such a culture here should be an important goal.

What do you need from MUSD this year?
With school switching to a purely online format, I think it's been harder for many students to feel connected and engaged in school activities. It would be great to see MUSD developing more free mental health resources, or providing teachers and students with events and ideas that could promote a greater sense of community. More guidance for high school seniors in navigating through college apps and their final year of high school would also help people who are anxious about how those processes will be different this year.

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Kapil Malladi, 17, Milpitas High School

What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
To me, being a semifinalist is an indication that my hard work and dedication to academics has paid off. It makes me confident that I will do well in college.

What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
I believe my parents, especially my mother, motivate me to succeed. They always push me to achieve, even when I am unsure of my abilities.

What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
My favorite subjects in school are math and physics because their structured nature helps me learn them better than other subjects.

What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why? 
I would like to attend UC Berkeley after graduating MHS because it has a strong computer science program and is close to home.

What does a Culture of WE mean to you?
To me, a Culture of WE emphasizes teamwork over individual effort. Success is best achieved as a team.

What do you need from MUSD this year?
MUSD has given me all the support that I need to succeed, especially with their fast response to COVID-19. I would like to thank Mr. Rojas, my teachers at MHS, and my counselor, Mr. Hernandez.

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Matthew Song, 17, Milpitas High School

What does being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist mean to you?
To me, it means that I somehow managed to make it into the top 1% of a lot of high school students out there. It's a pretty nice confidence boost!
What / Who motivates you to succeed at such a high level?
I have to give credit to my parents and my teachers. My parents value a good work ethic and trying your best no matter what, so from a young age, they encouraged me to be like that. My teachers helped me get here by giving me a great education, and some even taught me life lessons.
What is your favorite subject in school, and why?My favorite subject has to be science. I love learning about how the world works on many different levels, from the universe down to the atoms and molecules that make us.
What college would you like to attend after graduating MHS, and why?I'd like to attend Stanford University because it has a vibrant history, top scholars in their fields that I can work with, and it's in the heart of Silicon Valley. I also want to go out there and change the world for the better, and Stanford is one of the best places to do that. Oh, and it's close to home.

What does a Culture of We mean to you?
I personally found it interesting that you guys used "We" instead of "Us," but it does make sense. We are staff, students, parents, friends, and more. It is only together that we can go beyond and accomplish great things!

What do you need from MUSD this year?
So far, you guys have been doing a great job of supporting us, so keep it up! Although, more sleep would be nice.

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