David M.

I was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. Both my parents are first generation immigrants from China who relocated to the United States in search of better opportunities for themselves and our family. My parents wanted to ensure that my twin and I received the best possible education in order to obtain more opportunities and success in our careers and lives. Despite meager economic resources, the combination of my parents’ support and passion and my own appetite for learning resulted in where and who I am today.

Currently, I am a rising sophomore at Columbia University where I intend to major in Financial Economics and concentrate on Sustainable Development and Linguistics. During a trip to China, I was fortunate enough to visit my great uncle in the rural countryside of Hebei Province. There, I learned that his entire lifestyle revolved around sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. I am interested in these areas because they are growing multidisciplinary areas of expertise that I believe is very flexible and can augment my future profession. Perhaps after working in consulting or finance, I can join the non-profit sector. Through the New York Needs You program, I hope to hone and refine my soft skills while adding the technical skills I have learned in school to translate myself into a successful worker in any situation.