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The BOBA Project
Building Our Bonds Authentically
The BOBA Project's Asian Teen Essay Contest
The BOBA Project at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School is hosting an essay contest for all Asian/Asian American Massachusetts students between 12-18 years old. You can learn more about us and our research study here.
Prompt: Asian Americans are underrepresented when it comes to their perspectives being reflected within research studies. Yet, how people think and experience identity matters a great deal to their health and well-being. What do you think researchers should know about being Asian American or Chinese American? What are Asian American teen experiences that researchers should learn about to address the well-being of teens and their families?
Submission deadline: April 19, 2024 at 11:59 pm EST
Prizes:
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12-14 years: 2 winners ($300 each), 3-4 runner ups ($100 each)
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15-16 years: 2 winners ($300 each), 3-4 runner ups ($100 each)
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17-18 years: 2 winners ($300 each), 3-4 runner ups ($100 each)
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Winners will be announced at an award ceremony in May 2024, exact date TBA
Guidelines:
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Your essay must be 600-800 words.
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Use font: Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri.
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Use font size: 11 or 12 point.
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Your essay must be submitted as a Word file saved with the title Firstname_Lastname.docx (for example, Lily Chen's Word file would be saved as Lily_Chen.docx).
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You may not use AI-generated text in your essay.
In your essay, you may consider the following:
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Draw from your own experiences or your observations of others in your response. Here are some areas you might consider. The list or topics are not meant to be exhaustive but rather a means for you to generate ideas when it comes to issues that relate to identity:
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The role of social media, friends, parents, family, influential adults in your life
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Perspectives on academics and career trajectories
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Societal or cultural differences in attitudes when it comes to race and identity
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Perspectives on mental health, and mental health care (e.g., therapy)
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If you’ve participated in a research study before (like The BOBA Project, or something else unrelated to your identity such a brain study or a survey study), consider sharing what it was like to take part in that experience. Why should other Asian American teens and families engage as research participants?
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Please email us with any questions.
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Also check out our flyer! Please share it with anyone who you think would also be interested in submitting.