Angel Tejada describes Columbia engineering program and internship pathway

So, first of things, my name is Angel Tejada.

I will present my statement.

So, there are many things in life that can open many more new doors.

And my school is one of these things.

My name is Angel Alexander Tejada-Grujon.

I am 18 years old and I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic.

I came to the United States less than two years ago with my family, full of hopes and dreams to be achieved.

Adjusting to this country was challenging, but I was more focused on continuing my education.

I was lucky to find the best school in my life, International Community High School.

As a school with many immigrant students, I felt understood and supported.

We have counselors and internship coordinators who help us gain experience and opportunities to plan our next steps after high school and more.

After graduation, I plan to study in a four-year college on a STEM major.

The number one major I want to study is electrical engineering, followed by mechanical engineering and physics.

I relate majors to what I desire to be in the future, an aerospace engineer.

I feel more confident about my future thanks to the opportunities in ICHS has offered me.

My 10th grade internship

helped me improve my communications and public speaking skills.

Then, in 11th grade, from the connections I made in my internship, I was accepted into the Summer High School Academy program for engineers shaped at Columbia University, where I studied

electrical engineering for five weeks and learn how solar energy and electricity work.

I also learned coding with Python and how to solve health disparities using technologies.

This has increased my interest not only in studying more electrical engineering, but also in ways that knowledge can be used for humanity.

Thanks to the experiences I dreamed of studying electrical engineering in a highly selective Ivy League program, I wish more students had the opportunity I have at International Community High School.

Gracias.

Hablas como...

¿Fuiste nacida aquí?

No.

No, pero es...

Hablas, parece que hablas, sí, pero...

Pero tu inglés es muy bien.

Es solo hace dos años.

Estaba muy bien.

Yo estudié mucho dentro de mi país el inglés en un instituto pequeño.

Es claro que hace mucho trabajo aprender inglés.

También es claro que tiene un buen programa en tu escuela a ayudar y apoyar tu idioma.

Definitivamente.

Thank you.

You may begin.