On November 23, Harvard University announced that –
History and Mathematics joint concentrator Michael Y. Cheng ’22 has been awarded an American Rhodes Scholarship. At Oxford, Cheng plans to work toward a master of science (M.Sc.) in energy systems and a M.Sc. in political theory.
Asked about his time at Harvard, his senior thesis, and his plans for the future, he said:
Studying History was the single best decision I made at Harvard. History was my coming of age experience; history helped me appreciate the complex, organic nature of societies, mature as a person, build character, and develop intellectual independence and creativity. History opened my eyes to the world, taking me as far as Buenos Aires and Taipei, and gave me the courage to take bold risks, such as walking on to Harvard’s varsity rowing team.
Michael Cheng was a member of Lower Merion High School’s Class of 2018
As a sophomore at Lower Merion he was a finalist in MIT INSPIRE Competition in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences – for an essay entitled Delaware Detox: Lessons From Our Past and Nonpoint Source Pollution in the Delaware River Basin Today.
Also as a sophomore, he had a poem published by Blue Marble Review.
When Cheng was a junior he qualified for the National Chemistry Olympiad.
As a junior at Harvard, Cheng decided that he wanted to join the Lightweight Crew Team, but there was one problem with that. Passing a swim test was a requirement for joining the team, and despite all of his accomplishments, learning to swim was one thing he had not yet accomplished.
After he got to the end, the lifeguard sidled over and politely hinted he might try the smaller, shallower pool. There, Cheng spent the rest of the hour he’d reserved trying to get used to being in the water and wondering how he would become a skilled enough to pass the test. He would need to be able to jump or dive into deep water, surface, and swim 100 yards while demonstrating rhythmic breathing, and then tread water for two minutes. Most importantly, the swimmer must demonstrate not just competence but confidence in the water. Read more, Harvard Gazette
What does it mean to be a Rhodes Scholar?
From the Website of the Rhodes Trust – The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest (first awarded in 1902) and perhaps most prestigious international scholarship programme, enabling outstanding young people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford.
The four criteria which governed the selection of Rhodes Scholars in 1902 are still the guiding criteria for the selection of Rhodes Scholars:
- literary and scholastic attainments (academic excellence)
- energy to use one’s talents to the full (as demonstrated by mastery in areas such as sports, music, debate, dance, theatre, and artistic pursuits, particularly where teamwork is involved)
- truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship
- moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take an interest in one’s fellow beings.