Application for Perimeter Institute International Summer School for Young Physicists

While reading through the stuff I had on google docs, I came to this document that I wrote for my application to Perimeter Institute International Summer School for Young Physicists.

Document originally saved 2/18/10 12:34 AM
I have a very strong passion for physics and mathematics. For physics, I am interested in theoretical physics, learning about the string theory. it is also fascinating how there may be hidden dimensions within matter. I think this ties in well with my interest in fractual maths. I watch lots of documentaries about physics. My favorites are Feyman and Sagan. I am strong academically, and try to archive a total understanding of the course, not just memorizing formulas and just trying to pass it. I'm proud to say I finished grade 12 physics with 90%, and advanced functions 86%, data management 85%. My top 6 courses average 85.4%. In the summer of grade 8, I took out the book called "A Brief History of Time" and loved reading it, even though I couldn't understand a lot of the concepts in there. In the summer of grade 10, I built a spectrometer with a cereal box, discs, and duck tape. I still show a strong interest in science, I've taken all of the sciences I can, because I'm very passionate about learning. After doing grade 9 in high school, I figured out that you can take courses which are a grade higher than yours. So, In grade 10, I took two grade 11 courses. In grade 11, I again took two grade 12 courses. I even did a summer school English class, because I wasn't able to fit in all of my courses that I would like to take. Interestingly, I could've graduated in the 1st semester of grade 12, or choose spair periods. But I didn't. I also love computers and business. Some of my extracurricular activities include going to the Hamilton Linux User Group meetings - I even toured McMaster's SharcNet, along with the HLUG members, as they were the administrators. As for physics, I went to McMaster's public Colloquium in physics. Last time (Jan. 17th, 2010), they talked about crystalline structure and effects from temperature. I found it very interesting, and plan to attend more in the near future. I'm in the last semester of grade 12, and will graduate with honours from Westmount Secondary School. I also applied to University of Waterloo's Science and Business program and got an early acceptance - pretty neat. I plan on integrating physics with business, because the biggest problem with research is the lack of funding. It's always on everyone's mouths - how they need more funding, or larger, better facilities. Thus, I've explored into the business world too. I currently trade virtual stocks on marketwatch.com, and my portolio is +242%. I also hold the Treasurer position in our school. I believe physics and business is an essential combination because too often I've heard stories about how physics research is limited on the amount of funding they have. I plan on trying to solve this problem. Should I one day make a unnaturally large sum of money, I will use it towards physics research - it is my primary area of interest. I'm also interested in biology, and how life came to be. I wish we could travel space and visit other galaxies, and find other lifeforms. My all time favorite particle in physics is the tachyon - I'm in so interested in proving it exist.
I'm also very interested in math. My math teacher always said he didn't like physics because physics is so far behind than math, that math has found new principles, operations, and properties that physicists haven't even touched for their use in research.
My favorite place to be on a beautiful summer day is in the air-conditioned atmosphere of Chapters, sitting in Starbucks with my newly purchased magazines like 2600, New Scientist, Popular Science, and Popular Mechanics.
One of my recent accomplishments (I think) is the eradication of games from my life. I know how this sounds... but it is actually very important. Teenagers these days (especially guys), are more interested in being better in their games than anything else. I think it's a huge step for me. It created a lot more free time to use, and overall, I feel much better, quitting it was very hard and difficult.
Over time, I've acquired a collection of physics toys, like Newton's cradle, the drinking bird, (and I wish to acquire a sterling heat engine), a power-ball (generates centripetal force, and you turn it with your wrists), remote helicopters My favorite place to be is the Efonstien Science store in Toronto. I've always wanted have a powerful telescope hooked up the the computer, so when I have a job, I'll probably get one. I love documentary DVDs that I get from the library. One of my favorite is the PBS documentary on Palomar Observatory, and how it was funded and built.
On my twitter account, I subscribe to physics related tweeters, like LHC.
I hope to gain experience working with other young physicists and gain some acceptance - when I tell my friends that my goal is to contribute to humanity, and do greater good, they don't understand. I think it's quite possible that I'm the only physics loving student in my grade (which sucks, considering there's about 300 people in grade 12).
I also work on a streak, so once I get in the mood, I can concentrate for hours at a time, well into the night - usually from 12 am to 3 am... reading wikipedia articles. Boring huh; not to me it isn't.
My future plan is to become involved with physics and business - I wish to increase the amount of effort that goes into developing physics and its researches.
My ideal day would be to wake up at 10 am, go swimming in the morning, then go to chapters and get a good physics book to devour. After, perhaps go golfing and then get home around 8 pm and start my "day" of reading stuff on wikipedia, one link after another, well over 2am.

I believe space exploration and related technologies, to me, is the #1 most important endeavor humanity can pursue. Right now our progress in space exploration and space technologies is terrible – far from what it should be. The space agencies are suffering from lack of funding. It’s not actually how far we can research into physics, but how much resources we can use on it. The Canadian Space Agency’s total budget is a mere 373 million dollars – in comparison, the total Canadian military spending is 21.3 billion dollars. If I was Canada’s Treasurer, I would make sure more funds are allocated to physics research.

I don’t think the human race will survive the next thousand years, unless we spread into space. There are too many accidents that can befall life on a single planet. But I’m an optimist. We will reach out to the stars.
–Stephen Hawking

I also heard the Perimeter Institute also has close relations with Stephan Hawking – one of my heroes. I consider him as a highly valuable person – not only did he contribute to physics, but also with such burden! I can’t imagine how he managed to do that with his severe disability. He is truly an icon in our age.

My all-time favorite physics saying is: Never forget that we live on a rock, floating through space.