May Wang

Coach Mahoney
PE COACH
Valencia High School
"The thing I liked most was the effect you had on other students in my class. Your example and your positive attitude helped elevate the rest of the class and made it a very enjoyable classroom environment."
Danielle Connor
AP European History Teacher
Linensnlove.org Adviser
"You were the only student to mention contrapposto, referring to how Renaissance artists positioned their statues. You are enthusiastic bright, and intelligent. But more than that, you are a leader passionate about changing the world. You are a coordinator, facilitator, and inspiration to our club on campus, Linens N Love."
Ethan MoY
VICE PRESIDENT
LinensNLove.org
"I first met you as the girl that sat at the front of the Algebra II Math Class. You're positive, happy, and bright. You go beyond academics to use your time and help the community. You know how to motivate people in the best possible way. Your willingness to work and help others helps people grow along with you."
Wendy Tobiska
Director, Arts X Press
Theatre Instructor, Orange County School of Arts
"She really cares about people. Really cares. She wants to know where you come from and who you are- she's real, honest, and true. She cared about the campers and their interests and make camp life-changing for the kids. She's passionate about people. She is the real deal. It's not just about being bright or a great student- she cares about people and wants to know about and learn about them and make them feel important."
Hello Harvard Admissions Team! My name is
Emily Morgan
Classmate/Partner in crime
IB SL MATH
"I had a long week at one point, and you brought cookies to school and you were like, 'hey, have a Fabulous Friday' and it made my week a lot better. To you, it's a small thing for you to bake these and bring them to school but you have no idea how much you've changed somebody's week. Your kindness and caring about people are your greatest strengths."
Dioni Kwan
Senior Officer - SECRETARY
linensnlove.org
"You're adaptable to situations. For the club that you do, you've always got these questions to prepared beforehand. You're dedicated, organized, joyful, and resourceful."
Jackie Sanchez
THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE CLASSMATE
VALENCIA HIGH SCHOOL
"I was having trouble getting into college and doing college research. You've been by my side helping me prepare my scholarships and applications. Now I'm doing applications to seven universities! You're always smiling. Your positive energy is contagious- like chicken pox, for example. You're like the sun- you light up our world. That's your best strength."
Joy Millam 
Librarian
Linensnlove.org Adviser
"May Wang...oh, boy. You know, it's not every day that kids really stand out in a school like ours. When it comes to schools like Valencia High School, we have students like May who really stand out above 2,700 kids. She's one of these very special students who has stood out since day one."
Tara Campbell
CITY COUNCILWOMAN 
Yorba Linda
"[May is] extremely confident and a go-getter. She took initiative to get an internship in politics while in high school. She took initiative to get involved in our community with important issues and I know any university, especially Harvard, would be lucky to have someone like May."

As someone who embraces creativity, I found that Harvard's open essay option gave me a blank canvas brimming with opportunity to convey who I am. I've played with several ideas, ranging from cringeworthy raps to standard essays, but the inspiration behind the Harvard Project stemmed from my resolve to become a Harvard Crimson since the age of four, combined with my love for people. 


Throughout this project, I've been challenged with differing perspectives and approaches to my Harvard application. I firmly believe, though, that to omit the voices of these people, the inseparable facets of my life, would be a tremendous loss to who I am as a person.

The people in our lives are an essential part of who we are. I believe that every person we encounter has a story to tell. It was with that philosophy that I first started Fabulous Fridays ("What are Fabulous Fridays?") and other people-centered endeavors including Linens N Love, which you can learn more about through the project below.​


Thank you for your time, your consideration, and for the opportunity this project has given me to revisit the pieces of my past to build the foundations of my future.


All my best,


May


Foreword: The Harvard Project

Kelli Frager
ARTS ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
Pacific Symphony orchestra summer Arts X Press program
"I love that you're incredibly intentional in everything that you do. You really see people and you make time for them. Your maturity in that is something amazing, and I honestly think that this world would be a better place if we had more people like you around."
JIM Householter
AP US HISTORY TEACHER
Valencia High School
"Your attitude is always positive. I've never seen you down. Your positivity is definitely contagious. The Fridays, the treats, the things you'd bring in on your own to brighten everybody's day was wonderful. I actually got kind of spoiled and we would be like, 'Aw, man, you don't have one this week?' I've just never had a student do that before."
Marissa Garcia
Harvard Freshman
​Counselor, Arts X Press
"You said, 'Marissa, I just realized that your name means 'of the sea' because 'mar.' Is that in any way related to you wanting to do marine biology?' That was such a profound way you said that. Your name follows you everywhere. My name represents such a personal thing...yet you derived it yourself. For the first time, I didn't have to mention it. That really touched me. Thank you for caring so much about my passions to remember it a year later, and for taking the initiative to decipher it yourself."

​​​and I dream of being a Crimson. 

Peggy Huang
Mayor, City of Yorba Linda
​Deputy Attorney General, Orange County
"I know that you will be a white rose in a sea of crimson. I was very impressed by you two years ago when we first met. You have a good understanding of the complex issues of residential development. You did the necessary research and asked probative questions. I was shook by your questions, because they were very challenging questions. You asked such deep questions where it's difficult as a policymaker to answer. I've never been challenged by a 15 year old about complex issues."
Jyoti Sarolia
Chairwoman 
CHOICE HOTELS OWNERS COUNCIL
"At our Women's Hotelier Conference, I shared the story of your Linens N Love. You were so imaginative and thought about places we could deliver our blankets to, and I didn't even think about shelters. It wasn't so much that you were delivering blankets; it was more that you were gaining an experience about what that life's about and how it impacts them. You are caring. You are genuine. You are ready to keep learning."

The Harvard Project