When Roslyn senior Vincent Yao began his high school career in 2014, he wanted to challenge himself and soon discovered his passion for helping his classmates.
Now Yao serves as the Roslyn Board of Education’s student representative, bringing a student perspective to decision-making for trustees.
“Through the student government, I’m able to make a difference in the school by directly collaborating with the Board of Education and members of the school faculty in regards to student issues and school events,” Yao said. “The most rewarding part of being a student delegate for Roslyn High School is being able to see my work and plans come to fruition, whether that be directing school events or addressing student problems, such as wifi issues.”
Yao, the son of Dr. Alan Yao and Dr. Ellen Yao, was honored as a Siemens semifinalist last year for his project targeting colorectal cancer with traditional Chinese medicines, which he began working on as a freshman.
Through the project, Yao was able to scientifically prove that the herbs helped with the cancer treatment and were nontoxic for healthy cells.
“I thought it was rewarding and an honor to be recognized for my work,” Yao said. “After putting in the work for the past four years, building on top of the project every single year, having my work recognized by the scientific community feels good.”
Yao, who moved to Roslyn from New Hyde Park in second grade, is in the process of applying for both four-year universities and eight-year medical programs with the hope of studying biology and taking the pre-medicine track.
“One of my motivations for pursuing pre-medicine and biomedical research is due to the fact that my grandma has Alzheimer’s disease and my grandpa has prostate cancer,” Yao said. “This has only strengthened my interest in medicine and I hope to help find a cure or treatment for these diseases.”
Yao, who also plays tuba in the Roslyn Marching Bulldogs band and is a member of the high school’s speech and debate team, has also co-founded two organizations during his time at Roslyn.
The Asian Cultural Exchange, which strives to promote intercultural and interpersonal communication, seeks to help exchange students from Asia transition into the school system.
Humans of Roslyn, also co-founded by Yao, was inspired by the popular Humans of New York social media campaign and promotes understanding and unity among students and the community by sharing their challenges and stories online.
During his final semester, Yao said, the student government is planning to introduce a new school event to increase Roslyn’s school spirit and “remind everyone that not everything is about academics, and we should take a break.”
“I remember going into high school and throughout these four years, I’ve had a lot of questions, and I want to help underclassmen get through,” Yao said. “I feel like these past four years have gone by quickly, and for the most part every day was very busy, but I want to take the time to enjoy the last semester.”
