Senior Spotlight March 2012: Guanghao Max Liu
In Spring 2011, Pyschobiology major Max Liu from Cheshire, Connecticut was initiated into Mortar Board for his superior scholastic ability, outstanding and continual leadership, and dedicated service to the community. Max was elected by his peers to serve as the Funding Committee Chair, which means he is responsible for helping Mortar Board raise money for its causes through fundraising events like TV tapings and restaurant deals. Outside of Mortar Board, Max does UCLA Mobile Clinic, Project Literacy, UCLA Wind Ensemble, Phi Delta Epsilon Pre Medical fraternity and medical research. He also loves hiking, cooking, model building, and playing the clarinet. Please continue reading as we turn the spotlight on Max!
Describe your personality in three words:
Curious, laid back, humble
What is your best quality? Give an experience when you have put this quality to use.
My best quality I would say is my smile. I hope to use it as a way to brighten up the day of the people around me.
What are your interests?
Alzheimer’s disease research, hiking, model building, movies, trying out different cuisines, weight training
What do you like about UCLA?
My favorite part of UCLA is being able to take part in its rich traditions. Whether I am doing the 8 clap at a football or basketball game or dancing for 26 hours straight to raise money against pediatric AIDS or screaming my lungs out at midnight during finals week, I feel like a true bruin.
What is one thing you would like to change at UCLA?
I wished the students from various ethnic groups at UCLA would interact more in social situations. From my personal experience, people of the same ethnicities tend to form cliques and only hang out within those cliques. This really undermines the great opportunity that UCLA offers us to come together and share with each other our unique cultural customs and beliefs.
What has been your biggest learning experience?
Moving out of the dorms and having to learn how to cook and take care of the apartment have definitely been a learning experience. I am glad I did it though, since I became more independent as a result.
Name two movies you could watch over and over again? Why?
American Beauty and Good Will Hunting. The stories inspire me to never settle and pursue my dreams.
What is your favorite book and why?
My favorite books are the Harry Potter books. They captured and enriched my imagination as I was growing up. They also taught me to have the courage to do what’s right irrespective of what others think.
If you could meet anyone in history who would it be and why?
I am more interested in talking to a person from the future and learning about all the amazing new inventions and way of life rather than someone from the past.
If you could go anywhere in the world for a day where would you go and why?
I would like to go to Antarctica. It is the only place where the natural beauty is untouched by human activity. Plus I love penguins.
What career would you like to pursue after graduation? Why?
After graduation, I will be pursuing a MD and a PhD degree at University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine. My ultimate goal is to become a medical scientist, who could lead tomorrow's biomedical research efforts, bridge the gap between laboratory science and clinical medicine, and thereby contribute toward improving health and enhancing the quality of life by reducing disability and death from disease.
What characteristics does it take to become a great leader?
A leader must be able to motivate his followers and inspire them. He needs to have both good public speaking skills and also willing to listen and compromise. To me, a great leader is one who is efficient at delegating tasks and making sure everyone in the group feel like they are contributing and included.
Name one person you admire? Why?
I admire my parents the most. They have sacrificed so much by moving the family to the United States so I can have all these amazing opportunities to fulfill my potential.
Who has been your most influential professor and why?
Dr. Stanley Schein was my most influential professor. He inspired me to develop a love for scientific research. He also encouraged me to become a medical scientist so I could combine my interest for both research and medicine in my future career
Which is the one television character that you simply adore?
Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother. I want to emulate his legionary qualities in everything that I do.
What are the three most played songs on your iPod?
Party rock anthem - LMFAO
Island in the sun – Weezer
Rhapsody in blue – George Gershwin
If given a choice, which animal would you want to be and why?
I want to be an eagle. I have always wanted to be able to fly. I also admire their beauty and freedom.
Have you traveled outside of the United States? If so, where?
I have been to China, Mexico, Canada, Germany, France, Netherland, Luxemburg, and Italy.
What is the funniest prank played by you or on you?
I rather not disclose my pranks because they might get me in trouble.
What does being a member of Mortar Board mean to you?
Being in Mortar Board means that I am surrounded with an extraordinary group of people who are all so dedicated to community service and scholarship. It is a really humbling experience knowing the amazing things that every members did. It also inspires me to do more to give back to the community.
Curious, laid back, humble
What is your best quality? Give an experience when you have put this quality to use.
My best quality I would say is my smile. I hope to use it as a way to brighten up the day of the people around me.
What are your interests?
Alzheimer’s disease research, hiking, model building, movies, trying out different cuisines, weight training
What do you like about UCLA?
My favorite part of UCLA is being able to take part in its rich traditions. Whether I am doing the 8 clap at a football or basketball game or dancing for 26 hours straight to raise money against pediatric AIDS or screaming my lungs out at midnight during finals week, I feel like a true bruin.
What is one thing you would like to change at UCLA?
I wished the students from various ethnic groups at UCLA would interact more in social situations. From my personal experience, people of the same ethnicities tend to form cliques and only hang out within those cliques. This really undermines the great opportunity that UCLA offers us to come together and share with each other our unique cultural customs and beliefs.
What has been your biggest learning experience?
Moving out of the dorms and having to learn how to cook and take care of the apartment have definitely been a learning experience. I am glad I did it though, since I became more independent as a result.
Name two movies you could watch over and over again? Why?
American Beauty and Good Will Hunting. The stories inspire me to never settle and pursue my dreams.
What is your favorite book and why?
My favorite books are the Harry Potter books. They captured and enriched my imagination as I was growing up. They also taught me to have the courage to do what’s right irrespective of what others think.
If you could meet anyone in history who would it be and why?
I am more interested in talking to a person from the future and learning about all the amazing new inventions and way of life rather than someone from the past.
If you could go anywhere in the world for a day where would you go and why?
I would like to go to Antarctica. It is the only place where the natural beauty is untouched by human activity. Plus I love penguins.
What career would you like to pursue after graduation? Why?
After graduation, I will be pursuing a MD and a PhD degree at University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine. My ultimate goal is to become a medical scientist, who could lead tomorrow's biomedical research efforts, bridge the gap between laboratory science and clinical medicine, and thereby contribute toward improving health and enhancing the quality of life by reducing disability and death from disease.
What characteristics does it take to become a great leader?
A leader must be able to motivate his followers and inspire them. He needs to have both good public speaking skills and also willing to listen and compromise. To me, a great leader is one who is efficient at delegating tasks and making sure everyone in the group feel like they are contributing and included.
Name one person you admire? Why?
I admire my parents the most. They have sacrificed so much by moving the family to the United States so I can have all these amazing opportunities to fulfill my potential.
Who has been your most influential professor and why?
Dr. Stanley Schein was my most influential professor. He inspired me to develop a love for scientific research. He also encouraged me to become a medical scientist so I could combine my interest for both research and medicine in my future career
Which is the one television character that you simply adore?
Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother. I want to emulate his legionary qualities in everything that I do.
What are the three most played songs on your iPod?
Party rock anthem - LMFAO
Island in the sun – Weezer
Rhapsody in blue – George Gershwin
If given a choice, which animal would you want to be and why?
I want to be an eagle. I have always wanted to be able to fly. I also admire their beauty and freedom.
Have you traveled outside of the United States? If so, where?
I have been to China, Mexico, Canada, Germany, France, Netherland, Luxemburg, and Italy.
What is the funniest prank played by you or on you?
I rather not disclose my pranks because they might get me in trouble.
What does being a member of Mortar Board mean to you?
Being in Mortar Board means that I am surrounded with an extraordinary group of people who are all so dedicated to community service and scholarship. It is a really humbling experience knowing the amazing things that every members did. It also inspires me to do more to give back to the community.
