Honor Society® member
Sophia Yu
- Health Sciences
- Class of 2026
- San Ramon, California
Member since January 2022
About
I am a 17 year old senior and Honors College student pursuing a double major in applied science (health science emphasis) and business administration. I was admitted to CSULA via the Early Entrance Program at the Honors College in 2021. Prior to attending college, I was a student at the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University for 8 years, where I developed a strong foundation in academic rigor and interdisciplinary learning.
In addition to my academic pursuits, I was a nationally ranked competitive swimmer, earning recognition as National top butterflier and receiving gold medals at Far Western Championships and Junior Olympics for my age group. These experiences shaped my discipline, perseverance, and commitment to excellence.
I am deeply passionate about health science and healthcare administration, with a particular interest in advocacy and systemic change within the healthcare system. As an advocacy ambassador, I work with Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) and am dedicated to supporting efforts toward a world without type 1 diabetes.
In my spare time, I enjoy crocheting, archery, and journaling, which allow me to balance creativity, focus, and reflection alongside my academic work.
Education
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California State University, Los Angeles
Applied Science
2021 – 2025
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University of California-Berkeley
Girls in Engineering
2019
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Johns Hopkins University-Center for Talented Youth
Online Learning
2014 – 2021
Honors and awards
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High Honors, Johns Hopkins University
Students who earn High Honors achieve CTY Advanced level in math and/or ELA test areas.
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Certificate of Character: Exemplifying Responsibility
One student in each grade is selected at Cottonwood Creek School to become the award winner.
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Exemplary Performance in Writing
This award goes to one student in each school at Dublin Unified School District. Sophia Yu's "The Tree of Terror" made her the Award Winner.
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Young Marine Academic Achievement: Gold Lamp
4.0 GPA in all subject areas
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Young Marine Communication: Silver Compass
Young Marines who demonstrate strong skills in research and oral and written communication.
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National Young Marine of the Year-Division 6 Bookmark Competition Winner
Drug Demand Reduction Bookmark design
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National Top Butterflier & Backstroker, 2019
US Swimming Time Standard for Age Group
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Gold Medalist of Swimming Competition
1st place in 50Y/M, 100Y/M and 200Y/M Butterly and Backstroke Events at Far Westerns Championship and Junior Olympics
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High Points, 2019 Pacific Swimming Zone 2 Championship
One Swimmer who earned the most points was selected in each age group and gender
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High Points, 2018 Winter Junior Olympics
One Swimmer who earned the most points was selected in each age group and gender
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Dean's List, Fall 2021
GPA 4.0 at California State University, Los Angeles
Goals and interests
- Career goal
My career goal is to become an endocrinologist who has both science and social science as well as management backgrounds. Becoming a competent doctor requires strong personal skills, emotional intelligence, and thorough understanding of humans as a social group. I hope to become a leader in the field of type 1 diabetes treatment. After college, I would like to attend a medical school to prepare myself to gain medical knowledge on the human body and the endocrinological system. Meanwhile, I would like to pursue a masters’ degree in healthcare administration to gain more expertise in understanding both the human emotions and behaviors and the management skills in running and executing a healthcare office or hospital.
- Graduate school interests
Medical School for Endocrinology;
Master's Degree in Healthcare Business Administration- Outside the classroom
Reading, listening to music, journaling
Experience
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Lifeguarding (Including Deep Water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid
American Red Cross
Aug 2025 – Present
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Vice President, Natural Science Student Organization (Health Science Option)
California State University, Los Angeles
Jan 2022 – May 2025
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Lance Corporal
Young Marines
Oct 2020 – Aug 2021
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Adult and Pediatric Advanced First-Aid/CPR/AED
Young Marines
Mar 2017 – Aug 2021
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JDRF Advocacy Ambassador
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)
Mar 2017 – Jan 2022
Volunteering
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I volunteered for Native Plant Nursery at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in Thousand Oaks, California. The service included transplanting seedlings, watering and fertilizing the plants, aiming to grow 30,000 plants for local restoration. I helped with seedling transplanting; to separate the seedlings, I gently pulled their roots off the soil and planted one plant in each smaller pot with a rich soil mix. Then, I put the pots into a bigger tray and transported them to a nursery where the seedlings would further grow and later be planted in the community parks to promote local plant diversity. My volunteer work allows me to achieve my goal of protecting the community resources. Local plants play critical roles in keeping the ecosystem balanced, and they are more accustomed to California’s droughts and will help the community achieve biodiversity and prosperity. My volunteer work also allowed me to contribute to the National Park Service efforts to engage citizens in alleviating climate change and its negative effects on the ecosystem. The work also brought more enjoyment to the local citizens and visitors because they would have the opportunity to see more local plants that represent Southern California.
Santa Monica National Park
Aug 2021 – Nov 2021
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Volunteered at JDRF booth; documentation of the event can be found at https://www.instagram.com/p/B32x2tvBCDL/; Distributed T1D brochures, answer questions, and recruit new advocates; Walked miles with thousands of people to raise funds to support research finding a cure to T1D; More than $ 1 billion has been raised for T1D research via JDRF One Walk events .
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) One Walk, the largest T1D event, San Ramon
Oct 2019
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Volunteered and helped raised $558,000 for Type 1 diabetes (T1D) Research; Assisted the JDRF staffs to provide services by holding up the bidding board and answering questions the event host asked about T1D.
JDRF Fundraising, 14th Annual Summer Classic, Livermore CA
Sep 2019
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Interviewed by JDRF and talked about the reason for being a JDRF advocate. Video published by JDRF at www.instagram.com/p/Bwx2mzDhMPj/
Wipe Out T1D: Help Turn Type 1 into Type None! Santa Cruz
Apr 2019
Languages
- Chinese (Simplified) Fluent
- Spanish Beginner
Additional information
Organizations
