Libby Wu
I used to think that my true calling was to become a professional pianist. Then, that dream shifted to becoming the President of the United States. All of these aspirations at the ripe age of 8 were by no means guided by a realistic mindset, but it does overlay a mantra I’ve always stuck to: aim high and stick to those personal goals. For years, I thought that I had to adhere to some set of standards that the adults in my life expected of me, but I’ve grown to realize that those standards have always been a creation of my own dreams for the future. However daunting they may be, they have pushed me in ways I could have never imagined.
If it wasn’t apparent in the first sentence, I grew up playing the piano for 10 whole years, making it impossible to forget the incredible patience I developed from practicing that much. I never expected such a distinct change of scenery, but as I progressed into my Latin School career, I discovered the sport of rowing. Swiftly falling in love with the team and the grueling demands of crew, I have been rowing for all of my 5 years at BLS and can only hope to give back to my second family as much as they have given me. Now, as I enter the final stretch of high school, I could not be happier to have the honor of being one of their team captains. Unapologetically cliche in this statement, I can say that I discovered what I truly value in life through all that I’ve learned in this sport.
Circling back to my youth, I quickly moved on from those wild wishes after understanding that every dream has its roots in a humble beginning. To get to the post of the President has to start somewhere, and while that is not my ultimate aspiration in life, I do have my goals set at the fundamental launchpad of becoming a lawyer. In my sophomore English class, my teacher set up a mock trial activity modeled on The Crucible. I unexpectedly enjoyed playing the role of an attorney, and at that time, it actually redirected my hope of becoming a doctor to one that viewed a career in the legal field in a different light. Since then, I have interned at Ropes & Gray and have adopted the brighter, more enduring pursuit of someday studying law. The AP United States Government and Politics course I took this year only strengthened that yearning, since it taught me that the corruption in our current government calls for more dedication and attention to this political system. I hope to represent people who may not have a voice otherwise, and I am excited for all that the Ward Fellowship has to teach me in that regard.