Luna Accepted at MIT, shares his views

SoMD CAN participant Chris Luna will graduate this spring from PHS. During his junior and now senior years, he has demonstrated a crystal clear idea of where he wants to head post-graduation. Just before the holidays, he received the great news that his work has paid off - acceptance at MIT. Here are some responses to questions we posed to him so that he could share some of his observations about his journey to the goals he set for himself:

1. At this point in time, are you where you thought you would be in
pursuing your higher education/career plans and goals? Is there a big difference from your original plans and the ones you are currently working for? What will you do to
ensure that you will stay on this course?
I have surpassed my original expectations of where I would be in
pursuit of my higher education. I met my goals face-to-face and
conquered them. My ideas for my future have changed only in
specificity. I still wish to pursue engineering, but my expertise has
been refined to nanotechnology. To ensure I stay on this course I will
maintain the strict discipline and passion I have in life for changing
the world around me and becoming the best I possibly can.

2. What is the most surprising thing that you have experienced on

the path to attaining your goals?

The most surprising thing I have encountered are the people along
my path. I did not have the foresight to predict how friendly and
supportive everyone I would encounter on my path would be. Maintaining
an optimistic outlook and focused mindset not only helps yourself, but
others as well - their response to this is what surprised me the most.

3. What impact did your participation in SoMD CAN/College Access

have on you and your goals? What specifics were particularly helpful
to you?

SoMD CAN gave me an opportunity to size up myself from a
third-party perspective. I was able to take what I "thought" I should
be doing and refine it into exactly what had to be done in order to
succeed. SoMD CAN has most specifically helped me maintain my
constancy throughout the college and especially scholarship
application process.

4. Is there something that you know now that you wish you had known

then before undertaking this process?

There are many things I wish I could tell my younger self, but I
believe I was better off discovering them slowly over time. If
pressed, I would have to say that I wished I had maintained a wider
array of activities pertinent to my interests. A few years in a club
represent more commitment than a fraction of one year. I also wish I
had understood the discipline required to succeed earlier as it would
have allowed me to accomplish much more - invest now for benefits
later; instant gratification is not all it's cracked up to be.

5. What kind of message or encouragement would you want to send to

current SoMD CAN participants or students at your school about their
journey to higher education/career goals?

Maintain these six principles on your way to higher education or
careers: Reason, Purpose, Self-Esteem, Discipline, Balance, and
Virtue. If you keep these in mind while going through the motions of
the college process, and anything in life, you will find your self
succeeding. Be sure you use reason and logic when making decisions.
Ensure each action you undergo has a purpose. Remind yourself that you
are entirely worthy and capable of anything you set your mind to.
Maintain control over yourself and your action; nothing is beyond your
own control. Maintain a balance among activities - you don't have to
work ALL the time, but you are not supposed to slack off a majority of
the time. Also, be sure to keep virtue in your mind. Ability may get
you to the top, but character is what keeps you there. Look for
opportunities to apply what you know for the benefit of as many as
possible and you will find success follows.

Thanks, Chris for giving us your insights! Stay in touch and let us know what it's like when you are settling in. We all congratulate you on your achievements!

Want to share your road stories? Comment here!