Students entered essays on a variety of topics, including artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, video conferencing, medical advancements, Chat GPT, and more.
A panel of judges selected Esther Kim as the winner. Esther is a student at the University of Southern California, where she is majoring in occupational therapy. Her essay was titled “Assistive Technology Devices.” In it, she highlights how assistive technology devices have transformed the lives of nonverbal individuals with autism by providing them with a means to communicate, increasing their independence, and fostering social interaction.
Read more about Esther below and watch this video spotlight to learn more.
Tell us about yourself.
“I want to still be actively involved in volunteering with special needs organizations in my free time and help in any way I can with my experiences and expertise.”
My name is Esther Kim. I am extremely passionate about helping the special needs community because my younger brother Joseph, who has autism, changed my life. I am very active and athletic so I love spending time outdoors, constantly working on improving myself and my health.
In my free time, I crochet all sorts of knick-knacks and clothes while watching an exciting horror film or Friends for the 10th time in a row.
What has been your best experience in school?
My experience in school has been so fulfilling in many ways. Some of my best memories and experiences has been exploring the Los Angeles area including the beaches, museums, amusement parks, and all of the concerts and events around USC.
What influenced your choice of major?
My younger brother Joseph heavily influenced my choice of occupational therapy as a major because I was able to witness firsthand how impactful this career can be for people with specific needs. This major has been a dream and a goal of mine since middle school so it feels unreal to be living out my dream.
How do you envision yourself in five years?
In five years I will hopefully be working as an occupational therapist at a clinic with children with special needs. I want to still be actively involved in volunteering with special needs organizations in my free time and help in any way I can with my experiences and expertise.
What do you hope to learn from your college experience?
From my college experience, I hope to learn as much as I can about autism spectrum disorder. I have so much hands-on experience, spending so much time with people on the spectrum but I would love to really learn about and get a deeper understanding on the biology, science, and quirks of autism spectrum disorder.
