Brains for Change

Last weekend, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Future Leaders in Public Service (FLIPS) conference at Harvard College—a selective event that welcomes fewer than 100 high school students each year. Hosted by Harvard’s Service With A Name (SWAN) club, FLIPS gave me the chance to deepen my community engagement, grow as a leader, and get a firsthand glimpse into college life. We toured the campus, connected one-on-one with Harvard students, and heard from inspiring changemakers like Mark O’Donald, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts, and Olivia Zhang, founder of Cancer Kids First—the world’s largest youth-led pediatric cancer nonprofit.

Hearing their stories was incredibly empowering. I even got to share my work with The Melody Project, my nonprofit that brings music and connection to seniors, and received meaningful feedback on expanding its reach. The weekend culminated in our capstone projects, where I presented the mission and future plans of The Melody Project to my peers.

One of my biggest takeaways came from Mark O’Donald, who encouraged me to focus on fundraising to expand my impact and foster partnerships. With increased funding, I can improve the work I do, support under-resourced assisted living facilities, and increase my appeal to possible partner organizations. I also hope to contribute to organizations tailored to the well-being of elders, such as the National Council on Aging and the Alliance for Aging Research. To raise funds, I plan to host school-based events—like bake sales and drives—and utilize online campaigns and Crowdfunding.

Another key insight came from Olivia Zhang, who emphasized the power of quantitative data in building credibility. She used data to grow her nonprofit into the largest youth-run nonprofit in America, and I was inspired by her success. This summer, I’ll be conducting research at the University of California, Santa Barbara, on the effects of social interaction on the aging brain. This will help me substantiate The Melody Project’s work and mission with research on how music and social connection can delay cognitive decline, further highlighting the value we offer.

I’m so excited to apply everything I learned at FLIPS and continue growing The Melody Project’s impact!