Clean-cut Joe Pak may not be so recognizable at school functions when he often is painted blue, donning an Afro and maybe even a sombrero.

The 18-year-old Carlmont High School senior has pride for his Belmont school, positive pride. Pak is one of the Screamin’ Scots, a group supporting sports with a positive and oftentimes loud twist. But in person, the student is far from his enthusiastic fan demeanor. Through his active role in leadership, Pak has become involved in many activities over his high school career. When he goes to Harvard University this fall, the demeanor may remain calm, however, Pak hopes to bring his school spirit to the Crimson crowd.

“Joe Pak is one of the most remarkable students I have come across in my 13 years as a teacher here at Carlmont,” said Jim Kelly, who has worked with Pak in government and as a coach. “He has given so much of his time, both academically and extracurricular, to Carlmont High School. He has raised thousands of dollars for his class. He has been at the forefront of the school’s ‘green’ initiatives. He has been involved in school sports. He has generated tons of school spirit. All of this and more while maintaining an incredibly difficult academic load. And, he has been accepted to Harvard University. Indeed, Joe represents Carlmont High School like no other student. He is a remarkable young man.”

Pak wasn’t always the outgoing guy he is now.

The teen was born in San Diego and moved to Redwood Shores with his family shortly after. As part of the first class to go through Sandpiper Elementary School, Pak was shy. He had aspirations of becoming either G.I. Joe or the red Power Ranger. Pak changed his dreams and started breaking out of his shell at Ralston Middle School.

He ran for president in seventh grade, and lost, but it didn’t end there. Pak joined student council in eighth grade along with random clubs and basketball.

Pak continued in leadership at Carlmont, as class president for the first three years and school president this year. It was through his involvement that Pak was introduced to numerous activities he wouldn’t have otherwise tried, like men’s choir, which he joined this year.

“I didn’t know I could sing,” he said, noting before joining he had only done so in the shower.

Clubs on campus led the way to community outreach activities such as expanding the Adopt-A-Family program to focus on helping Carlmont families. Now the effort is year-round.

“People are hungry all year, not just during the holidays,” he said. “It’s … rewarding. I didn’t even know we have homeless students at our school.”

This summer, Pak helped as co-captain for the Relay for Life event, a 24-hour fundraiser for cancer research. Pak anticipated the event to be emotional, as he lost a friend to cancer freshman year.

It wasn’t all clubs; Pak participated in sports. He swam freshman year, played basketball for two with school and then through a club and pick-up games after. Pak added dancing to the list after helping to emcee the annual dance show this spring.

When it came time to plan life after Carlmont, Pak knew he had the grades to be considered for top schools. He had been accepted to the University of California at Berkeley with a scholarship when Pak got word from Harvard.

“I never thought I would get in, but I knew I had the grades to be considered,” said Pak.

A visit to the East Coast campus made the decision to change plans for Harvard a done deal.

“I loved everything about it,” he said with a smile.

Pak signed on to study biology but isn’t sure what he will do with that. He has an interest in politics and hopes to one day influence policy, possibly related to health care.

Before influencing policy, Pak will participate in a week-long trip to Costa Rica with his advanced placement biology class doing research. It will be Pak’s first time conducting research out of the country, but not research in general. He’s served as an intern at the NASA Ames Research Center.

http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=132813&title=Bringing%20flair%20to%20leadership

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1328557&forum_id=1#15152488)