Michael Lai StartingBloc NY '13 Q1
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Transcript of Michael Lai StartingBloc NY '13 Q1
Michael LaiStudent at Harvard College
StartingBloc NY ‘13 Application
I’m an eternal optimist.
I think it’s because I follow this definition of happiness:“happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”—Mahatma Gandhi
My happiness stems from my beliefs:– A quality education for all and learning as a lifelong process– Communities that are open, inclusive, and democratic.– Entrepreneurship as a toolkit to affect change and take charge
of your own life
Where did these beliefs come from?
I was born in China and raised in Southern California, with a loving family who gave me the opportunity and freedom to follow my passions at an early age. I didn’t realize how privileged I was, until…
I met my doppelgangers.
—kids just as bright as me, just as hard-working, but lacking the same opportunities that I was afforded. I’m playing “ninja” with one of them here during a volunteer trip to the SEED Public Charter School in Washington, D.C., 2011. I vowed to give back to those less privileged.
Since then, I’ve been:
a fellow at an innovative education nonprofit…
1st employee at an early stage higher education startup…
Chair of a 50 person civic education volunteer program at Harvard… Member of the Harvard
iLab student council…
A very smart man once told me,
“don’t think about what you want to be, think about what you want to do.”—President Obama, USSYP 2010
Next, I want to start a social venture in the field of education. But first...
I think the StartingBloc Fellowship is a perfect next step. Why StartingBloc?
• The opportunity to be involved in an organization that aligns with my core beliefs
• Learning more about the field of social innovation/building my skillset
• Lifelong support for my journey in social entrepreneurship
Above all, the people!
• Friends—inspire/be inspired & learn from/teach
• Potential co-founders/partners
• Mentors—industry leaders/domain experts
• Touch points for funding and grad school
• Emotional support• “Network
intelligence”
Thank you for your time and
consideration.