The Start to a Wonderful Journey by Xandro Xu

Though it is only week two of the program, I am already feeling at home. I love the kindness and respect everyone has towards each other, and our willingness to help each other succeed. ​

​Hi everyone! My name is Xandro Xu, and I am a junior currently attending Phoenixville Area High School. I have lived in Phoenixville for 11 years of my life, but for the first five, I have been traveling all over, from Philadelphia all the way to China (I’ve actually lived there for four years!) 

​Something that you may not know about me is that I am also very passionate about music. I have been playing piano since the age of four and have had numerous opportunities to perform at various renowned locations, including Carnegie Hall. I also play the clarinet, and was fortunate enough to qualify for the district, regional, and state level division conference this year. Music is something that has had such a profound impact on my life. Some of my other hobbies include landscape photography and reading (I love a good book!) At school, I participate in various activities, including my school’s marching band, the boys’ tennis team, and the student council. ​​​

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Growing up, I’ve always had a keen interest in the STEM field, inspired both from reading books to external influences from my best friend. In the future, I would like to work in the field of neurology and possibly obtain a Ph.D. Being a part of TRIP is the perfect opportunity for me to not only expand my scope of knowledge in the scientific research field, but to challenge myself on a greater personal level as well and to grow as a person. There are many aspects of TRIP that requires the usage of skills that do not necessarily pertain to STEM at all, some of which include cooperation and leadership.
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Though it is only week two of the program, I am already feeling at home. I love the kindness and respect everyone has towards each other, and our willingness to help each other succeed. I also know that throughout this program, I will face numerous challenges that I will have to work to overcome. I am beyond excited to see where this program brings me and am even more excited to share the rest of my journey with you all!

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