From Feeling Lost to Defining His Own Path<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\u201cAt the start of Apex, I felt really lost in the college application process and sought guidance in practically everything, from building a college list to drafting essays,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the support of mentors like Hersh, Jia Ming, and Phung, his uncertainty quickly turned into confidence. His mentors helped him refine his essays, prepare for interviews, explore career possibilities, and approach the college process with greater clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Kyle, mentorship was not just about getting into college. It was about having people who believed in his potential and helped him see possibilities for his future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, Kyle is heading to Duke University to study chemistry, a path inspired in part by Hersh, who shared his own experiences studying chemistry and pursuing a career in medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Milestone Year in the Making<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nEvery year, Apex for Youth awards scholarships to high school and college youth. For Kyle, winning the Apex College Success Scholarship and graduating from high school carry a significance that reaches far beyond his formal education. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kyle\u2019s parents immigrated to the United States and left high school early to work and support their family. \u201cWinning the Apex\u2019s College Success Scholarship and graduating from high school are a testament to my parents\u2019 17 years of support,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scholarship will help ease the financial burden of college and support Kyle as he continues exploring new opportunities, including study abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"high](\"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/ClaraHungPhoto_ApexForYouth_JTTaiPresentations_250815-33-1300x867.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA Community to Rely On<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhen asked about a mentor who affected his life, Kyle doesn\u2019t hesitate to give Hersh well-deserved praise and admiration. \u201cI’ve always thought of Hersh as more than a mentor since he was the best role model and teacher that I could ever ask for,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hersh is on track to become a physician\u2013scientist\u2014 Kyle\u2019s dream career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hersh supported Kyle academically, whether helping him understand challenging chemistry concepts, proofreading college essays, or preparing for important conversations. But their relationship extended beyond academics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes mentorship looked like staying late to work through problems. Other times, it looked like grabbing chicken buns together in Chinatown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apex gave Kyle the support and guidance that school alone couldn\u2019t teach. \u201cApex taught me that I had a community of adults that I could easily rely on,\u201d he says. \u201cThe help that the mentors provide, such as a last-minute mock interview request, is a valuable tool that I would have never gotten from school itself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"high](\"https:\/\/apexforyouth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/ClaraHungPhoto_ApexForYouthCAPGraduation_250621-11-1300x867.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSeeing Success Differently<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThrough his experience at Apex, Kyle\u2019s definition of success has evolved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGrowing up, success was rigidly defined as good grades in school, having a stable career, and living a cookie-cutter life,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, he sees it differently \u2014 success is celebrating the small wins along the way, whether it\u2019s creating a college list or staying productive. \u201cAn example of a success in my life is that I know that I have grown positively \u2014 whether it\u2019s feeling more confident or finding dependable mentors \u2014 after two years at Apex.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Building Agency Through Community<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nKyle describes agency as something built with others, not achieved alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAgency means being able to act independently,\u201d he says. \u201cHowever, it is not expected that we know how to act independently from the get-go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He believes agency develops through the people who guide us\u2014friends, family, and mentors\u2014who help us learn to navigate challenges before we step forward independently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This belief is at the heart of Apex\u2019s work: young people thrive when they have access to a web of support (people, resources, opportunities) that helps them realize their potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finding a Career Path in Medicine<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBeyond college applications, Apex also helped Kyle explore possible career paths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apex also helped Kyle pinpoint his career within medicine. Through Apex\u2019s career panel, he learned about work-life balance and salaries for roles such as physician assistants and radiation oncologists. These conversations helped him better understand different pathways and consider what kind of future he wanted to build. His mentor\u2019s own path as an MD-PhD student continues to shape how Kyle thinks about his future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A New Beginning at Duke University<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBefore beginning his college journey, Kyle celebrated this milestone alongside other Apex youth at a graduation and scholarship celebration at COTE, a Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For him, the COTE celebration marked both an ending and a beginning. \u201cThe COTE event celebrated the end of many things, such as high school and the Apex College Access Program,\u201d he says. \u201cAt the same time, it celebrated the start of new beginnings: college, new friends, and being an alumnus at Apex.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Empowering the Next Generation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nKyle\u2019s story is an example of potential unlocked when young people have access to consistent support, mentorship, and opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apex for Youth\u2019s College and Career Success Program helps students navigate college applications, explore career pathways, connect with mentors, and build the confidence to pursue their goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every year, Apex for Youth awards scholarships to high school and college youth. For Kyle, winning the Apex College Success Scholarship and graduating from high school carry a significance that reaches far beyond his formal education. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kyle\u2019s parents immigrated to the United States and left high school early to work and support their family. \u201cWinning the Apex\u2019s College Success Scholarship and graduating from high school are a testament to my parents\u2019 17 years of support,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scholarship will help ease the financial burden of college and support Kyle as he continues exploring new opportunities, including study abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When asked about a mentor who affected his life, Kyle doesn\u2019t hesitate to give Hersh well-deserved praise and admiration. \u201cI’ve always thought of Hersh as more than a mentor since he was the best role model and teacher that I could ever ask for,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hersh is on track to become a physician\u2013scientist\u2014 Kyle\u2019s dream career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hersh supported Kyle academically, whether helping him understand challenging chemistry concepts, proofreading college essays, or preparing for important conversations. But their relationship extended beyond academics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes mentorship looked like staying late to work through problems. Other times, it looked like grabbing chicken buns together in Chinatown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apex gave Kyle the support and guidance that school alone couldn\u2019t teach. \u201cApex taught me that I had a community of adults that I could easily rely on,\u201d he says. \u201cThe help that the mentors provide, such as a last-minute mock interview request, is a valuable tool that I would have never gotten from school itself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through his experience at Apex, Kyle\u2019s definition of success has evolved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGrowing up, success was rigidly defined as good grades in school, having a stable career, and living a cookie-cutter life,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, he sees it differently \u2014 success is celebrating the small wins along the way, whether it\u2019s creating a college list or staying productive. \u201cAn example of a success in my life is that I know that I have grown positively \u2014 whether it\u2019s feeling more confident or finding dependable mentors \u2014 after two years at Apex.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kyle describes agency as something built with others, not achieved alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAgency means being able to act independently,\u201d he says. \u201cHowever, it is not expected that we know how to act independently from the get-go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He believes agency develops through the people who guide us\u2014friends, family, and mentors\u2014who help us learn to navigate challenges before we step forward independently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This belief is at the heart of Apex\u2019s work: young people thrive when they have access to a web of support (people, resources, opportunities) that helps them realize their potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond college applications, Apex also helped Kyle explore possible career paths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apex also helped Kyle pinpoint his career within medicine. Through Apex\u2019s career panel, he learned about work-life balance and salaries for roles such as physician assistants and radiation oncologists. These conversations helped him better understand different pathways and consider what kind of future he wanted to build. His mentor\u2019s own path as an MD-PhD student continues to shape how Kyle thinks about his future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before beginning his college journey, Kyle celebrated this milestone alongside other Apex youth at a graduation and scholarship celebration at COTE, a Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For him, the COTE celebration marked both an ending and a beginning. \u201cThe COTE event celebrated the end of many things, such as high school and the Apex College Access Program,\u201d he says. \u201cAt the same time, it celebrated the start of new beginnings: college, new friends, and being an alumnus at Apex.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kyle\u2019s story is an example of potential unlocked when young people have access to consistent support, mentorship, and opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Apex for Youth\u2019s College and Career Success Program helps students navigate college applications, explore career pathways, connect with mentors, and build the confidence to pursue their goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA Community to Rely On<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSeeing Success Differently<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Building Agency Through Community<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Finding a Career Path in Medicine<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A New Beginning at Duke University<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Empowering the Next Generation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n