Michael LaiStudent at Harvard College

StartingBloc NY ‘13 Application

I’m an eternal optimist.

I think it’s because I follow this definition of happiness:“happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”—Mahatma Gandhi

My happiness stems from my beliefs:– A quality education for all and learning as a lifelong process– Communities that are open, inclusive, and democratic.– Entrepreneurship as a toolkit to affect change and take charge

of your own life

Where did these beliefs come from?

I was born in China and raised in Southern California, with a loving family who gave me the opportunity and freedom to follow my passions at an early age. I didn’t realize how privileged I was, until…

I met my doppelgangers.

—kids just as bright as me, just as hard-working, but lacking the same opportunities that I was afforded. I’m playing “ninja” with one of them here during a volunteer trip to the SEED Public Charter School in Washington, D.C., 2011. I vowed to give back to those less privileged.

Since then, I’ve been:

a fellow at an innovative education nonprofit…

1st employee at an early stage higher education startup…

Chair of a 50 person civic education volunteer program at Harvard… Member of the Harvard

iLab student council…

A very smart man once told me,

“don’t think about what you want to be, think about what you want to do.”—President Obama, USSYP 2010

Next, I want to start a social venture in the field of education. But first...

I think the StartingBloc Fellowship is a perfect next step. Why StartingBloc?

• The opportunity to be involved in an organization that aligns with my core beliefs

• Learning more about the field of social innovation/building my skillset

• Lifelong support for my journey in social entrepreneurship

Above all, the people!

• Friends—inspire/be inspired & learn from/teach

• Potential co-founders/partners

• Mentors—industry leaders/domain experts

• Touch points for funding and grad school

• Emotional support• “Network

intelligence”

Thank you for your time and

consideration.