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Helen Tsai

Biography

Helen Tsai sees the beauty and humanity of technology. When she volunteered at a children's hospital during high school, she saw how medical devices could contribute to healthcare. A friend who needed an above-the-knee prosthesis could not afford the cost of a new version with a microprocessor chip that allows a patient to climb stairs and recover from stumbles. "Continuing my studies in mechanical engineering will allow me to learn how to make technology more accessible while still maintaining its effectiveness."

In a household headed by working-class Taiwanese immigrants, Helen and her brother learned priorities. "My parents never compromised when it came to education and activities. I found myself in ballet lessons, math tutorials, art lessons, violin lessons, and more. I applied to MIT without believing that I could actually attend, due to funding." Financial aid made Helen's undergraduate degree possible. "MIT gave me so many hands-on opportunities. Nowhere else would I have been in the machine shop freshman year making a Stirling engine; mass-produce yo-yos by junior year; and completely redesign a bicycle, have it manufactured, and potentially see it on the market." At MIT, a scheduling mandate also put the technically minded Helen into an acting class. She surprised herself with the excitement she took in performing. She credits the course with strengthening her creative process and emboldening her individuality.

Helen chose between taking a prestigious job offer that would enable her to support her younger brother in college, and continuing her own education. "I realized that, by attending graduate school, I would be exposed to more technology and processes, which would be greatly beneficial in creating products." Her family encouraged her to pursue her potential in the graduate program this scholarship will fund.

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