Since an early age, education has always been the thing that matters most to me.

I grew up in a
family that emigrated to my country with nothing, and through education, built itself up, gaining
financial security. My mother, who holds an M.A. in Educational Management and has been a teacher
for 40 years, has always inspired me.
Education is important to me in two distinct ways: firstly, I believe that it is the best tool to enable
people to take responsibility for their lives. I believe strongly in the old Chinese saying: Give a man a
fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime. Secondly, although history has
shown that even educated people can hate, I believe that good education is still the most effective
tool we have to reduce unfounded hatred.

I devoted myself at an early age to teaching young people because I wanted to encourage social
responsibility and community contribution. From age 10 to 18, I was a member of a youth movement
that taught strong democratic values and social responsibility. At the age of 15, I was sent for a two
week youth leaders training course, following which I became a volunteer youth leader in the
movement. From age 15 to 18, I led groups of 30 children in weekly activities. For 2 years, I also
served as Chief Editor of the movements newspaper, managing 10.

In high school, I initiated and edited my schools first newspaper, because I felt it was important that
students would have a platform to publish their ideas. I also volunteered as a Big Brother for an
economically disadvantaged child for 2 years, a child who had never been taught by his parents to
value education. I worked hard to help him understand that education is the key to independence in
his future life and was thrilled to see him graduating from high school with excellent grades that
enabled him to apply to any local university.

I educated in the army too, when I was selected to be the Platoon Commander for the Intelligence
Corps leadership program training course. For 6 months, in an enclosed facility with no access to the
outside world, and with limited vacations, I was responsible for every aspect of my 15 young cadets
lives, being to them commander, teacher and father, instilling in them the importance of responsibility
and initiative in their future leadership roles.

I believe strongly in first-hand and hands-on learning. This is one reason I decided to continue with
full time work and community service even during my undergraduate studies. As a student, I
volunteered weekly for two years with the Youngsters Build a Future organization, tutoring groups of
3-4 fourth grade children from disadvantaged backgrounds and serving as their role model.

In my current job, I participate bi-weekly in a corporate-non-profit partnership between my company

and a local youth cultural center, teaching groups of children from low-income families from the
surrounding neighborhoods how to utilize education to build a better future, and strengthening their
confidence to do so. I want to continue the community service Ive been doing for 5 years through
Stanfords I Have a Dream Club, which is similar to the programs I participate in with my company.

I think that encouraging education should be the task of every capable person, not only a
governmental task. When I achieve my goal of becoming a CEO, I would like to create at my
company a corporate-non-profit partnership similar to the one I participate in now. The program will
encourage employees to volunteer to teach disadvantaged youth, and youngsters who remain
dedicated to the program will be given scholarships. I intend to use Stanfords Education and Social
Venture Clubs to brainstorm this idea with other Stanford students, and Stanfords Social
Entrepreneurship course to gain exposure to similar programs that might help me make this
partnership a reality.

When I realized that I was gay, at the age of 20, education took on a new importance for me. I
realized that I now have another personal reason to promote education. Lucky for me, I was born to
an open-minded family in a democratic country with an open society. However, I felt strongly that it is
my duty to somehow help prevent other gay people from suffering unfounded hatredand I knew that
education is the most effective tool.

I acknowledged that, although I am not a public figure and not involved in political activities, I can set
an educational example for my close friends and family, some of whom had incorrect stereotypes
about homosexuals. Although it took some time, I decided that I will not be embarrassed about who I
am and came out, telling all my family and friends, but otherwise not changing my lifestyle in any way.
The real significance of my example struck me when a brother of one of my friends approached me
discreetly and told me that he thought he was gay. He said that, looking at me, he realized that a
person can be both gay and live an ordinary life. I understood that, in addition to my educational
work, I can educate and contribute to a better society just by living true to myself. I hope that I can
continue to set this example not just in Stanfords Out4Biz Club, but simply by being who I am at
Stanford.